Articles and formulations for smoking products and vaporizers

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatuses for the customization of tobacco and  Cannabis  smoking products including formulations for onserts, precision rods and precision pods for harm reduction products particularly for those who simultaneously smoke or vape tobacco and marijuana, as well as methods and apparatuses for blending a salt of nicotine in crystalline form and one or more cannabinoids in crystalline form for a precision pod for use in a vaporizer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/569,318, filed on Sep. 12, 2019, which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/178,298, filed on Nov. 1, 2018, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/047,948,filed on Jul. 27, 2018, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, thedisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to tobacco and Cannabis products.

2. Description of the Related Art

Tobacco product manufacturers possess the methods and knowhow to produceproducts with a wide range of nicotine content and alkaloid profiles.For example, they can produce cigarettes ranging from approximately 0.20mg per cigarette of nicotine to at least 30 mg per cigarette. Very lownicotine cigarettes and low tar-to-nicotine yield-ratio cigarettes areboth useful for tobacco harm reduction for different purposes; theformer is to quit smoking and tobacco use altogether or transitionsmokers to smokeless tobacco products, and the latter is to smoke less.The methods and knowhow of tobacco product manufacturers include geneticengineering and plant breeding techniques to decrease or increasenicotine content in tobacco plants. Nicotine can also be extracted fromtobacco for production of very low nicotine cigarettes or nicotine canbe added for production of low tar-to-nicotine yield-ratio cigarettes.See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,612,066, 9,738,622, 9,814,258 and10,113,174, which describe these methods employed by tobacco productmanufacturers to produce factory-made tobacco products. Tobacco endusers, on the other hand, do not possess these method or knowhowcapabilities; nor have they had devices or the alkaloids in theappropriate formulations to conveniently and economically add alkaloids,cannabinoids, flavors, or other additives to their smoking products,which include cigarettes, cigars and marijuana cigarettes.

Some people smoke or vape tobacco and Cannabis simultaneously, includingthose who do not otherwise smoke tobacco, since there are reciprocal andfortifying effects from the combination of the nicotine in tobacco andthe cannabinoids in Cannabis. Inhaling smoke or vapor is the mostefficient and quickest way of experiencing the effects of thesecompounds, whether tobacco or Cannabis is smoked or vaped separately orsimultaneously. The main issue with smoking or vaping a blend of tobaccoand Cannabis is that many non-nicotine and non-cannabinoid compoundsmust be inhaled along with the nicotine and cannabinoids. This isespecially the case when smoking a blend of tobacco and Cannabis orsmoking cigarettes with any added cannabinoids since in either case,many carcinogenic tobacco compounds must be inhaled concurrently withthe nicotine and cannabinoids. Michael Russell, referred to as thefather of tobacco harm reduction, famously declared, “People smoke fornicotine but they die from the tar.” However, using tobacco in any form,including in smokeless tobacco products, is not without risk sincetobacco contains tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which arecarcinogenic, and include N-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN),4-N-Nitrosomethylamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK),N-Nitrosoanatabine (NAT), and N-Nitrosoanabasine (NAB). U.S. Pat. No.10,369,178 discloses tobacco products with added cannabinoids; however,this disclosure in no way solves the problem of smokers being exposed tomany tobacco carcinogens including TSNAs in order to enjoy thepleasurable effects of consuming nicotine and cannabinoidssimultaneously. Nor does the disclosure propose any device thatfacilitates consumers modifying their factory-made cigarettes.

Accordingly, there is a need for products comprising appropriateformulations which enable consumers to (i) conveniently, economically,and precisely customize the nicotine, other alkaloid, and/or flavoringcontent of their factory-made smoking products and (ii) enjoy thepleasurable combined effects of nicotine, cannabinoids and combinationsof other compounds through ready-to-vape and ready-to-smoke precisionpods without exposure to other tobacco compounds.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided anonsert to apply onto, around, or within a smoking product fortransferring one or more compounds to mainstream smoke of the smokingproduct, the onsert including a cellulosic wrapper, an adhesive disposedon the cellulosic wrapper for adhering the onsert to the smokingproduct, and one or more compounds disposed on the cellulosic wrapper,the one or more compounds individually equaling at least 1 mg selectedfrom the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, flavor,Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA),cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and the one ormore compounds may be nicotine.

In the onsert, the nicotine may include a nicotine salt.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and the one ormore compounds may be anatabine.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and the one ormore compounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and the one ormore compounds may be cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and the one ormore compounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) andcannabidiolic acid (CBDA) collectively equaling at least 5 mg.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be tobacco, and the one or morecompounds may be nicotine.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be tobacco, and the one or morecompounds may be anatabine.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be tobacco, and the one or morecompounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

For the onsert, the smoking product may be tobacco, and the one or morecompounds may be cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

For the onsert, the smoking product may be Cannabis, and the one or morecompounds may be nicotine.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be Cannabis, and the one or morecompounds may be anatabine.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be Cannabis, and the one or morecompounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

For the onsert, the smoking product may be Cannabis, and the one or morecompounds may be CBDA.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be Cannabis, and the one or morecompounds may be THCA and CBDA collectively equaling at least 5 mg.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a marijuana cigarette, andthe one or more compounds may be nicotine.

For the onsert, the smoking product may be a marijuana cigarette, andthe one or more compounds may be anatabine.

In the onsert, the adhesive may be self-sticking.

In the onsert, the adhesive may be moisture activated.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided aprecision rod for insertion into a smoking product to transfer one ormore compounds to mainstream smoke of the smoking product, the precisionrod including one or more compounds individually equaling at least 1 mgselected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine,flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid(CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, and a cellulosicrod having an ignition temperature of less than 350 degrees Celsius towhich the one or more compounds may be adhered to or housed within thecellulosic rod.

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be nicotine.

In the precision rod, the nicotine may be a nicotine salt.

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) andcannabidiolic acid (CBDA) collectively equaling at least 5 mg.

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a marijuana cigarette,and the one or more compounds may be nicotine.

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be anatabine.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided aprecision rod for insertion into a smoking product to transfer one ormore compounds to mainstream smoke of the smoking product, the precisionrod including one or more compounds individually equaling at least 1 mgselected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine,flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid(CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, an inner chamberthat houses the one or more compounds, a flame-resistant rigid materialaround the inner chamber having an ignition temperature of more than 350degrees Celsius in which the one or more compounds may be disposed, andat least one vent for ventilation of inbound air into the precision rodand outbound smoke out of the precision rod.

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette and, theone or more compounds may be nicotine.

In the precision rod, the nicotine may be a nicotine salt.

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a cigarette, and theone or more compounds may be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) andcannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

For the precision rod, the smoking product may be a marijuana cigarette,and the one or more compounds may be nicotine.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided aready-to-vape precision pod for use with a vaporizer configured togenerate vapor from dry herbs or concentrated plant extracts for thesimultaneous inhalation of two or more compounds, the ready-to-vapeprecision pod including each of two or more blended compounds equalingat least 1 mg selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine,anabasine, flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, a compartmentthat houses the two or more blended compounds, and one or more vents forventilation of inbound air into the compartment and outbound vapor outof the compartment, wherein the ready-to-vape precision pod may beconfigured for placement into an oven chamber of the vaporizer.

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the nicotine may be a nicotine salt.

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), andCannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), and cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA).

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine and anatabine.

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be anatabine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be anatabine and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be anatabine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), andcannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided aready-to-vape precision pod for use with a vaporizer, the ready-to-vapeprecision pod including one or more compounds equaling at least 1 mgselected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine,flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid(CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, marijuanaequaling at least 5 mg, a compartment that houses the one or morecompounds and the marijuana, and one or more vents for ventilation ofinbound air into the compartment and outbound vapor out of thecompartment, wherein the ready-to-vape precision pod may be configuredfor placement into an oven chamber of the vaporizer.

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the one or more compounds may benicotine.

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the one or more compounds may beTetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA).

In the ready-to-vape precision rod, the one or more compounds may beΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a flavorinjection system for infusing one or more compounds into a smokingproduct to transfer the one or more compounds to mainstream smoke of thesmoking product, the flavor injection system including a plungermechanism, a precision rod for insertion into the smoking product, andone or more compounds individually equaling at least 1 mg selected fromthe group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, flavor,Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA),cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA), tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA),cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, wherein theplunger mechanism is connected to the precision rod, wherein theprecision rod comprises one or more holes and an inner chamber thathouses the one or more compounds, and wherein the plunger is configuredto infuse the mainstream smoke of the smoking product with the one ormore compounds by pushing the compounds through the one or more holes inthe precision rod into the mainstream smoke of the smoking product.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a methodof increasing the nicotine smoke yield of a factory-made cigarette, themethod including providing an onsert including a salt of nicotine,wherein the onsert may be for insertion into the factory-made cigarette.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a methodof increasing nicotine smoke yield of a factory-made cigarette, themethod including providing a precision rod including a salt of nicotine,wherein the precision rod may be for insertion into the factory-madecigarette.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided anicotine-enhanced cigarette including a cigarette and an adjunct sourceof nicotine connected to or inserted into the cigarette, wherein theadjunct source of nicotine increases the nicotine yield of the cigaretteby at least 10 percent.

The adjunct source of nicotine may be an onsert connected to thecigarette.

The adjunct source of nicotine may be a precision rod inserted into thecigarette.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided aready-to-smoke precision pod for use with a smoking product for thesimultaneous inhalation of two or more compounds, the ready-to-smokeprecision pod including each of two or more blended compounds equalingat least 1 mg selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine,anabasine, flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, a compartmentthat houses the two or more blended compounds, and one or more vents forventilation of inbound air into the compartment and outbound smoke outof the compartment, wherein the smoking product includes a pipe, bowl orbong, and wherein the ready-to-smoke precision pod may be configured forplacement into a chamber of the smoking product.

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the nicotine may be a nicotinesalt.

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), andcannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be nicotine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), and Cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA).

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be a nicotine salt and anatabine.

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be anatabine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be anatabine and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the two or more blended compoundsmay be anatabine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), andcannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided aready-to-smoke precision pod for use with a smoking product, theready-to-smoke precision pod including one or more compounds equaling atleast 1 mg selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine,anabasine, flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene, very low nicotinetobacco equaling at least 5 mg, a compartment that houses the one ormore compounds and the very low nicotine tobacco, and one or more ventsfor ventilation of inbound air into the compartment and outbound smokeout of the compartment, wherein the smoking product includes a pipe,bowl, or bong, wherein the very low nicotine tobacco includes less than3 mg/g nicotine, and wherein the ready-to-smoke precision pod may beconfigured for placement into a chamber of the smoking product.

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the one or more compounds may beanatabine.

In the ready-to-smoke precision pod, the one or more compounds may becannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will be moreapparent by describing certain embodiments of the present disclosurewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a self-stick onsertfor a cigarette;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the self-stick onsert of FIG. 1Apartially wrapped around the cigarette;

FIG. 1C is a top view of the self-stick onsert of FIGS. 1A and 1B fullywrapped around and stuck to the cigarette;

FIG. 1D is a top view of two exemplary embodiments of self-stickonserts;

FIG. 1E is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of self-stick onserts;

FIG. 1F is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a self-stick onsert;

FIG. 2A is a front exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of aprecision rod and a view of this precision rod assembled;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of exemplary embodiments of precisionrods, each with varying size;

FIG. 2C is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a precision rodinserted into a cigarette;

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a flavorinjection system;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of aready-to-smoke precision pod for a bowl or pipe;

FIG. 3B is a is a perspective view of the ready-to-smoke precision podof FIG. 3A that has been placed in a smoking product, namely a bowl;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a prior art vaporizer being held inwhich the oven cover has been removed exposing the oven chamber; and

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of aready-to-vape precision pod placed within the oven chamber of the priorart vaporizer of FIG. 3C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Devices and formulations disclosed herein allow tobacco and Cannabis endusers to conveniently, economically and precisely customize the contentof nicotine, cannabinoids, flavoring and/or other additives in themainstream smoke from their smoking products such as cigarettes and inthe mainstream vapor from their vaporizers to meet preferred product andtaste preferences regardless of manufacturers' product offerings in agiven market. Very low nicotine cigarettes are an important tool fortransitioning smokers to e-cigarettes or tobacco heating products andfor smokers quitting tobacco and nicotine products altogether;therefore, very low nicotine cigarettes, along with e-cigarettes andtobacco heating products, have great potential for tobacco harmreduction. Since the rate of metabolizing nicotine varies widely acrossdifferent populations of smokers, consumers having the ability, forexample, to slightly increase the nicotine content of their own very lownicotine cigarettes is important. Devices and formulations disclosedherein empower consumers to modify the compounds in the smoke fromsmoking products and the precisely customize the compounds in vapor fromvaporizers to their preferences.

Regarding very low nicotine cigarettes, these modifications allow agreater percentage of smokers to tolerate these cigarettes andexclusively smoke them (without smoking any conventional cigarettes)while attempting to quit tobacco and nicotine products altogether orswitch to a less harmful product such as e-cigarettes or ready-to-vapeprecision pods comprising unique blends of compounds. See U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/047,948 for methods and various types of verylow nicotine cigarettes and other products to assist smokers intransitioning to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating device or to assistsmokers in quitting tobacco and nicotine altogether.

In a phase III clinical trial published in The Journal of the AmericanMedical Association to determine if there is a difference in biomarkersof smoke exposure between reducing the nicotine content of cigarettesimmediately versus gradually, the immediate reduction in nicotine causedgreater withdrawal symptoms, greater use of non-study conventionalcigarettes, and higher dropout rates. For these study subjects, theimmediate reduction to very low nicotine cigarettes containing tobaccowith 0.4 mg nicotine per gram (nicotine content per cigarette isapproximately 0.3 mg) was likely too low of a nicotine reduction tooquickly. See JAMA Sep. 4, 2018, Volume 320, Number 9, pages 880-891.Some of these subjects who dropped out of this study (and other studiesusing very low nicotine cigarettes) would likely have completed thestudy if they had access to a device which easily connected to theirvery low nicotine cigarettes and provided an adjunct source of nicotinetransferred to mainstream smoke, as needed by the smoker. Mainstreamsmoke is the smoke that is inhaled and includes the smoke that emergesfrom a smoker's mouth or that emerges from the mouth end of a smokingproduct (e.g., filter end of a filtered cigarette) as a result of asmoker smoking the smoking product. The amount of nicotine provided forthis purpose would be quite low.

In a phase II clinical trial to examine the effects of reduced nicotinecigarettes on smoking behavior, toxicant exposure, dependence andabstinence, there were three interventions: six weeks of (i) 0.05 mgnicotine yield cigarettes (very low nicotine content cigarette), (ii)0.3 mg nicotine yield cigarettes (low nicotine content cigarette withapproximately 6-fold the nicotine content of the very low nicotinecigarette), and (iii) a 4 mg nicotine lozenge. Although dropout rateswere highest for the nicotine lozenge arm at 48 percent, dropout ratesfor the 0.05 mg nicotine yield cigarette arm was second highest at 40%,followed by 25 percent for the 0.3 mg nicotine yield cigarette arm.Dropouts were considered treatment failures so reducing the dropout rateamong those using the very low nicotine cigarette would have beenbeneficial since the very low nicotine cigarette arm had the highestabstinence rate post treatment among the 3 interventions. See Hatsukamiet al. 2010, Addiction, 105(2):343-55. If those in the very low nicotinecigarette arm of the study had access to a product which easilyconnected to their very low nicotine cigarettes to slightly increasenicotine in mainstream smoke, as needed, the dropout rate would likelyhave been less and the cessation rate higher.

For smokers not interested in quitting or switching to a smokelessproduct, increasing the nicotine content of conventional cigarettes,which results in low tar-to-nicotine yield-ratio cigarettes anddecreased smoke inhalation due to the increased concentration ofnicotine. Since cigarettes which have a low tar-to-nicotine yield ratio(‘tar’ machine yield divided by nicotine machine yield which may be anISO method or other method) of approximately 8 or less are not currentlysold by tobacco companies, consumers enhancing the nicotine yield oftheir factory-made conventional cigarettes is advantageous for those whodesire to reduce their harm from smoking but cannot quit smokingcigarettes or will not quit smoking cigarettes. Conventional cigarettestypically have a tar-to-nicotine yield ratio from 10 to 14 (e.g., ISO‘tar’ yield of 13 mg and nicotine yield of 1 mg), which means in thisexample, for every 1 milligram of nicotine, a smoker must inhale about13 milligrams ‘tar.’ It is important to note that although people smokefor nicotine, smoking related disease results from the smoke including‘tar.’ Reducing the dose of smoke reduces harm.

Due to compensatory smoking behaviors, as compared to conventionalcigarettes, exposure to harmful “tar” and gases is decreased withnicotine-enhanced cigarettes (as defined below) while exposure tonicotine remains approximately the same. Although there is variation,smokers generally desire approximately 1 mg of nicotine per cigarette,and any more nicotine per cigarette than what a smoker desires becomesan unpleasant experience. Smokers easily titrate down their smokeexposure when smoking nicotine-enhanced cigarettes by taking smallerpuffs and fewer puffs per cigarette. Conventional cigarettes in whichthe nicotine yield has been enhanced in the mainstream smoke byembodiments herein, allow smokers to obtain this approximate 1 mg ofnicotine per cigarette (or any other per cigarette amount a smoker findsacceptable) more efficiently and smokers inhale less smoke, as comparedto conventional cigarettes in which the nicotine yield has not beenenhanced. See, for example, Armitage et al. 1998, Psychopharmacology,96:447-453; Fagerstrom 1982, Pharmacology, 77:164-167; Russell M. A.,Nicotine and Public Health, Chapter 15, American Public HealthOrganization, 2000; and Pandolfino 2005, Presentation on Oct. 19, 2005at Life Science Research Organization (LSRO), Reducing the AdverseHealth Impact of Cigarettes on Smokers Who Will Not or Cannot AbstainThrough Modification of Leaf Nicotine Content, which may be downloadedat the LSRO website.

A conventional cigarette that has a tar-to-nicotine yield ratio of 13,which now includes a sufficient adjunct nicotine source (e.g., aprecision rod comprising 18 mg of nicotine inserted into a cigarette),results in a nicotine-enhanced cigarette with a tar-to-nicotine yieldratio of less than eight. The result is that smokers inhalesignificantly less smoke including less ‘tar.’ The exact tar-to-nicotineyield ratio depends on the features of the cigarette being enhancedincluding overall ventilation, type of filter, level of additives, etcetera.

There are various reasons manufacturers do not make certain productsavailable to consumers (e.g., low tar-to-nicotine yield-ratio cigarettesof ≤8) even though there is demand. These include corporate decisions tonot cannibalize sales of existing products on the market, lack oftechnology or intellectual property, high cost or limited availabilityof raw materials, law or regulations prohibiting manufacturers fromselling a product (but not consumers from making or modifying afactory-made product), and/or the level of demand in a market may notjustify the large capital expenditures required to bring a product tomarket (e.g., required machinery).

Each of the terms ‘about’ or ‘approximately’ is used herein to meanroughly, around, nearly, or in the region of. When the term ‘about’ or‘approximately’ is used in conjunction with a numerical value or range,it modifies that value or range by reasonably extending the boundariesabove and below the numerical values set forth.

“Alkaloids” are a group of nitrogenous compounds typically of plantorigin. For example, nicotine is the primary alkaloid found incommercialized cigarette tobacco accounting for, depending on tobaccotype (e.g., flue cured, burley and oriental) and variety (e.g., K326),about 95 percent of the total alkaloids in tobacco leaf. Anatabine,nornicotine, anabasine and other alkaloids account for the remainingportion of total alkaloids. The alkaloid profile, which is thepercentage or contribution of each alkaloid to the total content of allalkaloids, differs across tobacco types, tobacco varieties and cigarettebrand fillers. Depending on tobacco type and variety, anatabine accountsfor about 1% to about 4%, nornicotine accounts for about 1% to about 3%,and anabasine accounts for about 0.02% to about 0.4%. As used herein‘nicotine,’ ‘anatabine’ and ‘anabasine’ may be extracted from any plantspecies including any species of the genus Nicotiana, and any of thesealkaloids may also be synthesized, or be an analog, or be made in theform of salts of organic acids. See, e.g., Sisson et al 1990,Beitragezur Tabakforschung International, Volume 14, No. 6, June-July.Synthetic nicotine, nicotine salts derived from synthetic nicotine,synthetic anatabine, anatabine salts derived from synthetic anatabine,synthetic anabasine, anabasine salts derived from synthetic anabasine,analogs of nicotine, analogs of anatabine, analogs of anabasine,nicotine salts of organic acids, anatabine salts of organic acids, andanabasine salts of organic acids are included herein in the meaning ofnicotine, anatabine and anabasine, respectively. Nicotine salts,nicotine co-crystals, and nicotine salt co-crystals are all included inthe meaning of nicotine herein and any of these including combinationmay be used in any embodiment herein.

Although nicotine is a hygroscopic oily liquid which may be utilized inthe embodiments herein in that form, end users enhancing the delivery ofnicotine in finished tobacco products with nicotine as a solid orsemi-solid is preferred for the embodiments herein due to increasedstability and cleaner and easier applications for end users, as comparedto liquid forms of nicotine. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,738,622,which discloses nicotine salts, nicotine co-crystals and nicotine saltco-crystals that are in a solid or semi-solid form, but does notdisclose methods or devices for consumers to incorporate these as anadjunct source of nicotine to finished tobacco products or smokingproducts such as factory-made cigarettes. Liquid forms of nicotine suchas e-liquids or e-juice would inhibit the ignition and burning ofsmoking products to produce smoke, and the nicotine content is toodiluted to be a significant and effective adjunct nicotine source.Besides being too voluminous for the embodiments herein, these liquidand dilute forms of nicotine would defeat the purpose of some of theaerosol embodiments herein for vaporizers since too much aerosol wouldbe required to be generated for a given dose of nicotine. Whether smokeor vapor, the less inhaled the better, which is an advantage ofconcentrating nicotine and cannabinoids in the embodiments herein.

In addition to solid or semi-solid forms of nicotine, other compoundsutilized in the formulations herein for onserts, precision rods, andprecision pods are preferably in a solid or semi-solid form. A solid, ofcourse, is a fundamental and commonly referred to state of matter(others are liquid, gas and plasma). A semi-solid is the physical termfor something whose state lies between a solid and a liquid. Asemi-solid material is similar to a solid in some characteristics suchas the ability to support its own weight and to hold its own shape.Examples of semi-solids are peanut butter, toothpaste and petroleumjelly. Blends of compounds and components for formulations in, on orwithin onserts, precision rods or precision pods may include solids,semi-solids and liquids; however, the final blended formulation ispreferably a solid or semi-solid (not a liquid such as an e-liquid). Forexample, a blend of ingredients in the compartment of a precision podmay include a crystalline nicotine salt, a wax of concentrated Cannabis,and liquid glycerin resulting in the final blended formulation being asolid or semi-solid (which depends on proportions of each of the 3ingredients used) even though a liquid was utilized (to add anappropriate level of moisture).

A nicotine salt is a form of nicotine characterized by the interactionbetween nicotine in ionic form and a coformer in ionic form such as anacid by the transfer of one or more protons from the coformer donor tothe nicotine acceptor. The structure of nicotine has two nitrogen atomscapable of accepting protons from a coformer so it can be present innon-protonated, mono-protonated or di-protonated form. Examples ofnicotine salts include but are not limited to the following: nicotine4-acetamidobenzoate, nicotine ascorbate, nicotine aspartate, nicotinebenzoic, nicotine bitartrate, nicotine chloride such as nicotinedihydrochloride and nicotine hydrochloride, nicotine citrate, nicotine2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, nicotine 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate, nicotinefumarate, nicotine gentisate (2,5-hydroxybenzoic), nicotine glutamate,nicotine 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate, nicotine 3-hydroxybenzoate, nicotinelactate, nicotine levulinic, nicotine malate, nicotine mono-pyruvate,nicotine mucate, nicotine perchlorate, nicotine pyruvate, nicotinesalicylate, nicotine succinate, nicotine sulfate, nicotine tartrate andnicotine zinc chloride.

A nicotine co-crystal is a form of nicotine encompassing nicotine and atleast one other component (coformer) in which both are in neutral form.Co-crystals are usually characterized by a crystalline structure, whichis generally held together by freely reversible, non-covalentinteractions. Co-crystals are typically made up of nicotine and at leastone other component in a defined stoichiometric ratio and can includehydrates, solvates and clathrates. Co-crystals can comprise nicotine incombination with an organic and/or an inorganic component and aregenerally distinguished from salts by the absence of a proton transferbetween the components (the nicotine and the one or more coformers) in aco-crystal. In contrast, a nicotine salt co-crystal is a type of hybridstructure with both salt and co-crystal features. Typically, a nicotinemolecule within a salt co-crystal is associated with at least twocoformers (which may be the same or different), in which one coformer isin ionic form such as an acid and transfers a proton to the nicotinemolecule and the second coformer does not transfer a proton to thenicotine molecule. Any form of nicotine, including nicotine salts,nicotine co-crystals, and/or nicotine salt co-crystals may be utilizedherein for any onsert, precision rod or precision pod embodiment.

As used herein, “cigarette” means any roll of tobacco, which may includenon-tobacco materials, wrapped in paper that when lit combusts andproduces smoke. A cigarette usually also includes a filter, plug wrap(constrains the filtration materials) and tipping paper (holds thecigarette paper to the filter and plug wrap). Glue seals the cigarettepaper together, and if the cigarette has a filter, glue holds theseother components together. The term cigarette shall also include anyroll of tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco which,because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used, or its packagingand labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers asa cigarette. An example is a ‘little cigar’ which may include a filterand generally looks very similar to a cigarette. Factory-made cigarettesmean cigarettes that are fabricated and rolled in a factory by a tobaccomanufacturer, and unless provided to smokers as research cigarettes,factory-made cigarettes are typically purchased at retail stores by endusers. Factory-made cigarettes usually come in packs of twentycigarettes. As used herein, “marijuana cigarette” means any roll ofCannabis wrapped in paper or any other non-tobacco material that whenlit combusts and produces smoke for inhalation. A marijuana cigarette(i.e., joint) does not contain tobacco; however, may yield nicotine orother tobacco alkaloids if an onsert or precision rod, as disclosedherein, is attached to or is inserted within the marijuana cigarette. Amarijuana cigarette may be rolled by Cannabis end users or fabricated ina factory by a Cannabis manufacturer. Unlike a marijuana cigarette, ablunt is marijuana rolled in a tobacco leaf or cigar wrapper thatcomprises tobacco, and a spliff is a marijuana cigarette which alsocontains tobacco.

As opposed to factory-made cigarettes, roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes ormake-your-own (MYO) cigarettes are put together by tobacco end users.RYO cigarettes are made with tobacco and rolling papers. A cigaretteroller may also be utilized to roll the tobacco into the rolling paper.MYO cigarettes are generally made with tobacco and a mechanical MYOmachine in which the tobacco is inserted into an empty cigarette tube(with or without a filter). A mechanism inserts the tobacco into thetube and the result is a cigarette that looks very similar to typicalstore-bought factory-rolled cigarettes. Although RYO (tobacco androlling papers) or MYO (tobacco and tubes) cigarettes are generally eachcheaper for consumers to purchase than factory-made cigarettes, RYO andMYO cigarettes are time consuming and tedious to assemble and usually donot have the uniformity or quality of factory-made cigarettes. RYOtobacco and MYO tobacco are essentially the same and closely resemblefiller of factory-made cigarettes. RYO tobacco, MYO tobacco and pipetobacco are all finished tobacco products (as defined below) whichtobacco end users purchase to smoke.

As used herein, “filler” means the cumulative smokable material (besidescigarette paper), wrapped in the rod of a cigarette, or in a tobaccostick of a tobacco heating device (or in tobacco heating rod [e.g.,TEEPS®] if no separate holder in a tobacco heating product), selectedfrom the group consisting of cut tobacco leaf (cut-rag), tobacco stem,reconstituted tobacco, expanded tobacco, Cannabis, casings, flavoringsand other additives or ingredients such as cannabinoids or additionalalkaloids such as anatabine. Reconstituted tobacco is usually includedin the filler of factory-made cigarettes and resembles cut-rag tobacco.Expanded tobacco is also usually included in the filler of factory-madecigarettes and is processed through the expansion of suitable gases sothat the tobacco is ‘puffed’ resulting in reduced density and greaterfilling capacity of the tobacco rod. Expanded tobacco reduces the weightof tobacco used in cigarettes.

As used herein, “reconstituted tobacco,” also known as Recon, meanstobacco sheet produced by the rolling or casting of tobacco dust, stemsand/or by-products that have previously been finely ground are thenmixed with a cohesive agent or binder and typically humectants, flavorsand preservatives are included. The result in a paper-like malleablesheet which is essentially recycled tobacco. The two types ofreconstituted tobacco known in the art are band cast and paper cast. Foreach of these, every producer has a slightly different process. TheRecon process allows virtually any compound or plant fraction to beadded. Once the reconstituted tobacco sheet is fabricated, it is thencut into small strips. The size and shape of the strips are typicallysimilar to the size of cut-rag tobacco, and the reconstituted tobaccomay be blended into the filler of cigarettes; however, the large sheetsof Recon can be cut to any size. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,270,552 and5,724,998 and Chapter 11, 377-379, Tobacco: Production, Chemistry andTechnology, 1999. Nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, THCA, CBDA, CBCA,CBGA, THCVA, CBDVA, CBCVA, CBGVA, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene,limonene and/or humulene may be further incorporated during the Reconproduction process before the sheets are fabricated. In some exemplaryembodiments herein, the reconstituted tobacco sheet is utilized forproduction of wrappers for onserts and the Recon sheets are cutaccordingly, or the reconstituted tobacco sheet may be very finely cut,ground and incorporated into precision pods or precision rods. In otherexemplary embodiments, very low nicotine tobacco is reconstituted andutilized for onserts, precision rods or precision pods.

As used herein, “reconstituted Cannabis” means a Cannabis sheet producedin the same fashion as reconstituted tobacco sheet in which Cannabisflowers, leaves, dust, stems and/or by-products that have beenpreviously finely ground are then rolled or casted and mixed with acohesive agent or binder which usually includes humectants, flavors andpreservatives. Reconstituted Cannabis sheet does not require any tobaccoportions so it can be made tobacco free, and if no nicotine is desired,it can be made nicotine free, and is easily made into reconstitutedsheets similar to reconstituted tobacco. The Cannabis portion of thereconstituted Cannabis sheet may be made from approximately 70 percentto approximately 90 percent Cannabis plant parts. Once fabricated,reconstituted Cannabis sheet is cut to any size desired. In someexemplary embodiments, the reconstituted Cannabis is utilized forproduction of wrappers for onserts or cut very fine and incorporatedinto precision pods or precision rods. Nicotine, anatabine, anabasine,THCA, CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, THCVA, CBDVA, CBCVA, CBGVA, myrcene,caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and/or humulene may be furtherincorporated during the Recon production process before thereconstituted Cannabis sheets are fabricated. Very low THC Cannabis orTHC-free Cannabis may be produced from hemp strains or varieties, orstrains or varieties of Cannabis that are genetically engineered forvery low THC content and utilized for reconstituted Cannabis. Very lowTHC Cannabis and low nicotine (or zero nicotine) tobacco may both beutilized in the same reconstituted sheet.

In other exemplary embodiments, reconstituted plant material (e.g.,leaves and stems) is utilized for production of wrappers for onserts orfor use in precision pods or precision rods, and the reconstituted sheetdoes not include any tobacco or Cannabis. Herbs such as jasmine andGinseng, for example, are utilized for production of “reconstitutedherbal sheet.” Whether reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted Cannabisand/or reconstituted jasmine, for example, nicotine, anatabine,anabasine, THCA, CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, THCVA, CBDVA, CBCVA, CBGVA, myrcene,caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and/or humulene are incorporated(infused) during the Recon production process before the reconstitutedsheets are fabricated.

As used herein, “finished tobacco product” means a tobacco product thatis ready for consumer use or consumption and includes but is not limitedto cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, cigarillos, roll-your-own (RYO)tobacco (used with rolling papers by end users to roll their owncigarettes or marijuana cigarettes), make-your-own (MYO) tobacco (usedwith cigarette tubes and a mechanical MYO machine, typically by endusers to make their own cigarettes or marijuana cigarettes, in which thetobacco or Cannabis is inserted by the machine into an empty cigarettetube), Cannabis, pipe tobacco, tobacco heating products (e.g., IQOS®),snuff, snus, and chewing tobacco such as dipping tobacco. E-cigarettesare not tobacco products since the only fraction of tobacco they containis nicotine. RYO tobacco or MYO tobacco may not be designated as eitheron packaging and may be referred to as “tobacco” since it can be used asRYO tobacco or MYO tobacco.

As used herein, “smoking product” means any product that is ready forconsumer use or consumption that when used by itself (e.g., cigarette)or used with an interdependent smoking product (e.g., a pipe and pipetobacco are interdependent on one another) produces mainstream smoke forinhalation (except smoke from certain cigars may not be inhaled by somecigar smokers, due to the high nicotine content and high pH of the smokeresulting in nicotine being absorbed through the mouth) when ignited,and includes but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, roll-your-own(RYO) tobacco, Cannabis, rolling papers for RYO tobacco or Cannabis,make-your-own (MYO) tobacco, cigarette tubes for MYO tobacco orCannabis, pipes, bowls, bongs, tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, spliffs,blunts, and marijuana cigarettes. RYO tobacco and MYO tobacco,individually or collectively, may be referred to herein as ‘tobacco’ or‘finished tobacco.’ A bowl is a type of pipe that typically has ashorter stem. The ‘tobacco chamber,’ ‘Cannabis chamber’ or ‘chamber’ iswhere tobacco or Cannabis is burned in pipes, bowls and bongs. Onserts,precision rods and certain precision pods (those not for vaporizers) arealso smoking products.

As used herein, “conventional cigarette” means a cigarette having aconventional nicotine content of at least 9 mg per cigarette. Theaverage nicotine content of conventional commercial cigarette brands isapproximately 14 mg of nicotine per cigarette but may range fromapproximately 9 mg to over 20 mg of nicotine per cigarette. See Mortonet al. 2008, Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2008.03.001.

As used herein, “very low nicotine cigarette” means a cigarettecontaining 2.0 milligrams (mg) nicotine per cigarette or less such asless than 0.05 mg, 0.10 mg, 0.15 mg, 0.20 mg, 0.25 mg, 0.30 mg, 0.35 mg,0.40 mg, 0.45 mg, 0.50 mg, 0.55 mg, 0.60 mg, 0.65 mg, 0.70 mg, 0.75 mg,0.80 mg, 0.85 mg, 0.90 mg, 0.95 mg, 1.00 mg, 1.05 mg, 1.10 mg, 1.15 mg,1.20 mg, 1.25 mg, 1.30 mg, 1.35 mg, 1.40 mg, 1.45 mg, 1.50 mg, 1.55 mg,1.60 mg, 1.65 mg, 1.70 mg, 1.75 mg, 1.80 mg 1.85 mg, 1.90 mg or 1.95 mgnicotine per cigarette. Per cigarette nicotine content is calculated bymultiplying the weight of the filler in a cigarette rod by the nicotinecontent of the filler in the cigarette rod. For example, if the fillerof a cigarette weighs 0.666 gram and has a nicotine content of 3 mg/g,the nicotine content of the cigarette is about 2 mg. Filler having anicotine content of 3 mg/g equates to an approximate 85% reduction ofthe average nicotine content of tobacco filler in conventional cigarettebrands which is approximately 20 mg/g.

Very low nicotine cigarettes have been manufactured by the tobaccoindustry at various times for decades. For example, John Alden TobaccoCompany manufactured the John Alden very low nicotine cigarette brand inthe 1950s and advertised the brand as “At least 85% less nicotine thanthe two leading filter tip brands.” The low-nicotine tobacco used inJohn Alden very low nicotine cigarettes was classified by the U.S.Department of Agriculture as Type 31-V. In addition to growing tobaccothat already has very low nicotine, other processes have been developed.For example, Philip Morris USA developed a commercial supercritical CO2process to remove 97% of nicotine from filler and sold various brands ofvery low nicotine cigarettes.

As used herein, a “nicotine-enhanced cigarette” means a cigarette whichincludes an adjunct source of nicotine (e.g., from an onsert orprecision pod) resulting in the nicotine smoke yield of the cigarettebeing increased by equal to or greater than 7 percent, as measured by anindustry-accepted, standardized, smoking-machine test method (e.g.,International Standards Organization [ISO] smoking-machine test method4387:2000 [Cigarettes—Determination of total and nicotine free dryparticulate matter using a routine analytical smoking machine]), ascompared to the nicotine smoke yield of the cigarette without theadjunct source of nicotine as measured by the same said test method. Thenicotine yield of very low nicotine cigarettes or conventionalcigarettes may be enhanced by an adjunct source of nicotine. Otherexamples of industry-accepted, standardized, smoking-machine testmethods are the Canadian intense method, the Massachusetts method, andthe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) method. Besides an adjunct source ofnicotine, nicotine-enhanced cigarettes, may also utilize a device usedin conjunction with the adjunct source of nicotine such as a cigaretteholder.

Depending on the design of the cigarettes being infused with an adjunctnicotine source, including the level of ventilation of the cigarette,the increase in nicotine smoke yield will vary from cigarette type tocigarette type for a given amount of adjunct nicotine (e.g., a precisionrod comprising of 10 mg nicotine). Just as a small percentage of thenicotine in the filler of a cigarette (the average nicotine content of acigarette is about 14 mg) transfers to mainstream smoke (may be measuredby a smoking machine), which ranges from approximately one percent ofthe nicotine content for highly ventilated cigarettes to approximatelyten percent of the nicotine content for virtually non-ventilatedcigarettes, a similarly small percentage of nicotine is transferred froman onsert or precision rod to mainstream smoke. This nicotine transferrate, which is the rate that the nicotine content in the filler of acigarette (and/or the nicotine content of the nicotine onsert) transfersto the mainstream smoke as measured by a smoking machine, also dependson if any (or the level of) burn accelerators or ash conditioners areincluded in the cigarette paper and/or source of adjunct nicotine (e.g.,onsert). The way smoking products including cigarettes are smoked (i.e.,intensely, by taking large and frequent puffs, or not) also affects thenicotine transfer rate of cigarettes with or without adjunct nicotinesources. Specific smoking regimes such as the ISO, Canadian intensemethod, or Massachusetts method each standardizes nicotine yields withor without onserts or precision rods.

The increased nicotine yield of the smoke of a nicotine-enhancedcigarette may be equal to, for example, at least 0.002 mg, 0.003 mg,0.004 mg, 0.005 mg, 0.006 mg, 0.007 mg, 0.008 mg, 0.009 mg, 0.010 mg,0.011 mg, 0.012 mg, 0.013 mg, 0.014 mg, 0.015 mg, 0.016 mg, 0.017 mg,0.018 mg, 0.019 mg, 0.020 mg, 0.025 mg, 0.030 mg, 0.035 mg, 0.040 mg,0.045 mg, 0.050 mg, 0.055 mg, 0.060 mg, 0.065 mg, 0.070 mg, 0.075 mg,0.080 mg, 0.085 mg, 0.090 mg, 0.095 mg, 0.100 mg, 0.125 mg, 0.150 mg,0.175 mg, 0.200 mg, 0.225 mg, 0.250 mg, 0.275 mg, 0.300 mg, 0.325 mg,0.350 mg, 0.375 mg, 0.400 mg, 0.425 mg, 0.450 mg, 0.475 mg, 0.500 mg,0.525 mg, 0.550 mg, 0.575 mg, 0.600 mg, 0.625 mg, 0.650 mg, 0.675 mg,0.700 mg, 0.725 mg, 0.750 mg, 0.775 mg, 0.800 mg, 0.825 mg, 0.850 mg,0.875 mg, 0.900 mg, 0.925 mg, 0.950 mg, 0.975 mg or 1.000 mg nicotine,et cetera. For example, a nicotine-enhanced cigarette may be a very lownicotine cigarette in which the nicotine yield increased from 0.03 mg to0.05 mg.

As used herein, an “anatabine-enhanced cigarette” means a cigarettewhich includes an adjunct source of anatabine resulting in the cigarettehaving an increased anatabine yield of equal to or greater than 7percent, as measured by a testing method capable of quantitatinganatabine in smoke, and as compared to the same type of factory-madecigarette without said adjunct source of anatabine and measured by thesame test method. For an example of such a testing method, see Zhang etal. 2018, Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom., 32:1791-1798 (DOI:10.1002/rcm.8222). The anatabine yield of very low nicotine cigarettesor conventional cigarettes may be enhanced by an adjunct source ofanatabine such as from an onsert or precision rod.

This anatabine source may be plants including tobacco plants with highanatabine in which the anatabine is extracted by, for example, asupercritical CO₂ extraction process. The anatabine content may also beenhanced by anatabine salts of organic acids, anatabine analogs orsynthesized anatabine. The increased anatabine yield of the smoke of ananatabine-enhanced cigarette may be equal to, for example, at least:0.10 μg, 0.15 μg, 0.20 μg, 0.25 μg, 0.30 μg, 0.35 μg, 0.40 μg, 0.45 μg,0.50 μg, 0.55 μg, 0.60 μg, 0.65 μg, 0.70 μg, 0.75 μg, 0.80 μg, 0.85 μg,0.90 μg, 0.95 μg, 1.00 μg, 1.10 μg, 1.20 μg, 1.30 μg, 1.40 μg, 1.50 μg,1.60 μg, 1.70 μg, 1.80 μg, 1.90 μg, 2.0 μg, 2.25 μg, 2.50 μg, 2.75 μg,3.0 μg, 3.25 μg, 3.50 μg, 3.75 μg, 4.0 μg, 4.25 μg, 4.50 μg, 4.75 μg,5.0 μg, 5.25 μg, 5.50 μg, 5.75 μg, 6.0 μg, 6.25 μg, 6.50 μg, 6.75 μg,7.0 μg, 7.25 μg, 7.50 μg, 7.75 μg, 8.0 μg, 8.25 μg, 8.50 μg, 8.75 μg,9.0 μg, 9.25 μg, 9.50 μg, 9.75 μg, 10 μg, 11 μg, 12 μg, 13 μg, 14 μg, 15μg, 16 μg, 17 μg, 18 μg, 19 μg, 20 μg, 21 μg, 22 μg, 23 μg, 24 μg, 25μg, 30 μg, 35 μg, 40 μg, 45 μg or 50 μg of anatabine per cigarette. Anadvantage of an anatabine-enhanced very low nicotine cigarette is thatthis type of cigarette reduces withdrawal and craving of conventionalcigarettes more effectively than very low nicotine cigarettes withoutenhanced anatabine. Anatabine-enhanced very low nicotine cigarettes areespecially useful when used to assist smokers in transitioning toe-cigarettes or a tobacco heating device or to assist smokers inquitting tobacco and nicotine use altogether.

As used herein, an “anabasine-enhanced cigarette” means a cigarettewhich includes an adjunct source of anabasine resulting in the cigarettehaving an increased anabasine smoke yield of equal to or greater than 7percent, as measured by a testing method capable of quantitatinganabasine in smoke, and as compared to the same type of factory-madecigarette without said adjunct source of anabasine and measured by thesame test method. For an example of such a testing method, see Zhang etal. 2018, Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom., 32:1791-1798 (DOI:10.1002/rcm.8222). The anabasine yield of very low nicotine cigarettesor conventional cigarettes may be enhanced by an adjunct source ofanabasine such as from an onsert or precision rod.

This anabasine source may be plants including tobacco plants or plantsin which the predominant alkaloid is anabasine such as Nicotiana glauca,Nicotiana noctiflora, Nicotiana petunioides and/or Nicotiana debneyiplants. The anabasine may be extracted by, for example, a supercriticalCO2 extraction process from any type of tobacco. The anabasine contentmay also be enhanced by anabasine salts of organic acids, anabasineanalogs or synthesized anabasine. The increased anabasine yield of ananabasine-enhanced cigarette may be equal to, for example, at least:0.01 μg, 0.02 μg, 0.03 μg, 0.04 μg, 0.05 μg, 0.06 μg, 0.07 μg, 0.08 μg,0.09 μg, 0.10 μg, 0.15 μg, 0.20 μg, 0.25 μg, 0.30 μg, 0.35 μg, 0.40 μg,0.45 μg, 0.50 μg, 0.55 μg, 0.60 μg, 0.65 μg, 0.70 μg, 0.75 μg, 0.80 μg,0.85 μg, 0.90 μg, 0.95 μg, 1.00 μg, 1.10 μg, 1.20 μg, 1.30 μg, 1.40 μg,1.50 μg, 1.60 μg, 1.70 μg, 1.80 μg, 1.90 μg, 2.0 μg, 2.25 μg, 2.50 μg,2.75 μg, 3.0 μg, 3.25 μg, 3.50 μg, 3.75 μg, 4.0 μg, 4.25 μg, 4.50 μg,4.75 μg, 5.0 μg, 5.25 μg, 5.50 μg, 5.75 μg, 6.0 μg, 6.25 μg, 6.50 μg,6.75 μg, 7.0 μg, 7.25 μg, 7.50 μg, 7.75 μg, 8.0 μg, 8.25 μg, 8.50 μg,8.75 μg, 9.0 μg, 9.25 μg, 9.50 μg, 9.75 μg, 10 μg, 11 μg, 12 μg, 13 μg,14 μg, 15 μg, 16 μg, 17 μg, 18 μg, 19 μg, 20 μg, 21 μg, 23 μg, 24 μg, 25μg, 26 μg, 27 μg, 28 μg, 29 μg or 30 μg of anabasine per cigarette. Anadvantage of an anabasine-enhanced very low nicotine cigarette is thatthis type of cigarette reduces withdrawal and craving of conventionalcigarettes more effectively than very low nicotine cigarettes withoutenhanced anabasine. Anabasine-enhanced very low nicotine cigarettes areespecially useful when used to assist smokers in transitioning toe-cigarettes or a tobacco heating device or to assist smokers inquitting tobacco and nicotine use altogether.

Total alkaloid levels or individual alkaloid levels such as the level ofnicotine, anatabine or anabasine in tobacco or filler can be measured byseveral methods known in the art. Examples include quantification basedon gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography.See, e.g., Lisko et al. 2013, Anal Chem. March 19; 85(6): 3380-3384,which provides the following methods used to measure quantities ofalkaloids in the filler of cigarette brands and in tobacco types (e.g.,burley tobacco). The analysis of minor alkaloids such as anatabine oranabasine has been performed with gas chromatography (GC) coupled with awide spectrum of detection techniques including flame ionizationdetection (FID), nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD), and massspectrometry (MS). Other analysis approaches have includedhigh-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV),capillary zone electrophoresis-ultraviolet detection (CZE-UV), micellarelectrokinetic capillary chromatography-ultraviolet detection (MECC-UV),nitrogen chemiluminescence detection (NCD), and microemulsionelectrokinetic chromatography-ultraviolet detection (MEEKC-UV).Utilization of gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) inmultiple reaction mode (MRM) allows for greater compound specificity byeliminating matrix ions arising from other compounds that share the sameparent mass but lack the correct transition ion, drastically decreasingbackground interferences and reducing detection limits. The amount ofnicotine (and propylene glycol and glycerol) in e-liquids or blends inprecision rods or precision pods may be determined by ISO/DIS 20714,which is a gas chromatographic method, or any other method known in theart. Unless specified or insinuated otherwise, analyte measurements(e.g., nicotine) are on a dry weight basis.

For any exemplary embodiment herein, nicotine is first provided by anyof the various methods known in the art for extracting nicotine,anatabine and anabasine from Nicotiana plants such as high nicotine N.rustica plants and then purifying the extract. These methods areutilized for nicotine replacement therapy products like the nicotinelozenge and nicotine patch. Alternatively, in other embodiments,synthetic nicotine, synthetic anatabine or synthetic anabasine is firstprovided, which offers advantages of not being extracted from tobacco.See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,556,142 and Ayers et al. 2005 The AAPSJournal; 7(3) Article 75, E752-E758 (http://www.aapsj.org). The nicotineis then prepared preferably in a solid or semi-solid form by any of themethods known in the art. These may be in crystalline and/or amorphousform.

Upon crystallization or solidification, the nicotine salt may be cut orground to form any shape or size depending on the application. Fornicotine powder applications, the size may be as small as 25 microns,and for other application the size may be 5 mm. Alternatively, nicotinesalts are available commercially. For example, nicotine bitartratedehydrate, a pure, water-soluble crystalline salt of nicotine in apowder form and used for the production of nicotine lozenges and gums isavailable from Alchem International SA.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends)

Many types of ENDS have been developed and marketed over the pastdecade. For example, a tobacco heating product is comprised of a holder,tobacco sticks and a charger. The IQOS® tobacco stick (HeatStick®), forexample, is inserted into the IQOS® holder which heats the tobaccomaterial by means of an electronically-controlled heating blade. TheHeatStick® differs from a cigarette in many ways. For example, thetobacco in the HeatSticks® for the IQOS® product does not burn and ismade from tobacco powder uniquely processed and specifically designed tofunction with the holder to produce an aerosol. In another exemplaryconfiguration, a tobacco heating device is ignited like a conventionalcigarette. There may not be any holder, charger or battery and thetobacco may be directly heated in a tobacco heating rod. For example, anignited carbon heat source heats (and does not burn) the tobacco andproduces an aerosol similar to tobacco heating devices which comprise ofseparate tobacco sticks. The types of tobacco heating devices withcarbon heat sources, for example, closely resemble a typical cigarettephysically, but do not burn. The disposable heating element is containedin each rod producing the aerosol that is inhaled, known herein as a“tobacco heating rod” or “heating rod.” An example is TEEPS® which isbeing developed by Philip Morris International. Other examples includeEclipse® and Revo®, which were previously sold in the United States butare no longer on the market. In another configuration, a tobacco heatingdevice has no holder or charger and includes a battery in every heatingrod and each heating rod may be disposable. Accordingly, it isunderstood that any device that heats tobacco (or tobacco extract or aform of tobacco such as reconstituted tobacco) below combustion (doesnot burn the tobacco) to produce an aerosol is a tobacco heating deviceregardless whether there are separate tobacco sticks from the holder orheating element, whether charging a battery is required or a battery iseven required, whether something needs to be ignited such as the end ofa carbon heat source, and/or whether any electronics are involved. Theterms, tobacco heating device, tobacco heating product, heat-not-burntobacco device, and heat-not-burn tobacco product as used herein aresynonymous.

An e-cigarette is a rechargeable electronic device which includes aheating coil, atomizer that transforms the e-liquid (also known ase-juice) to an aerosol, cartridge or the like (sticks or pods)containing the e-liquid, mouthpiece and battery for recharging thedevice. Although there are many appearances and designs that mayencompass varying steps, they generally operate by drawing on thee-cigarette, activating a heating element which aerosolizes thee-liquid, allowing the aerosol to be inhaled. E-liquids typicallycontain nicotine, water, flavors and humectants. The humectant acts as acarrier solvent which dissolves the nicotine and flavors and aerosolizesat a certain temperature on the atomizer of the e-cigarette. Typically,propylene glycol and/or glycerol are the solvents used in e-liquids. Thee-liquid of e-cigarettes which is contained in cartridges, for example,have nicotine contents which vary widely by brand and brand style.

A vaporizer (vape) vaporizes substances, typically plant material suchas Cannabis, for inhalation without burning the substances. Theseinclude both dry herb vaporizers (e.g., for Cannabis flowers) andvaporizers configured for plant extracts such as concentrates or waxyextracts. Some vaporizers are configured for both dry herbs andconcentrated extracts such as the PAX 3®. Vaporizers configured for dryherbs and/or concentrates are typically open systems allowing the userto place whatever is desired to be heated into the oven chamber and thenthe oven chamber is closed with a cover or the like. These types of opensystem vaporizers such as the PAX 2® are differentiated from closedsystem vaporizers such as Glo® and IQOS® which use tobacco sticks andthe tobacco is not accessible; however, open system vaporizers worksimilarly to Glo® and IQOS® since open systems like the also generatevapor from smokable plant material (e.g., Cannabis), which typicallyhave moisture levels from about 10 percent to about 17 percent. Theready-to-vape precision pods disclosed herein are capable of workingwith dry herb vaporizers and vaporizers for concentrates which isadvantageous. Open system vaporizers are also differentiated frome-cigarettes in that e-cigarettes utilize e-liquids and open systemvaporizers do not. As compared to the exemplary embodiments herein ofthe ready-to-vape precision pods comprising concentrated forms ofnicotine, e-cigarettes cause the user to inhale a much greater volume ofvapor for a satisfying dose of nicotine (e.g., 1 mg) since the nicotinein e-liquids is drastically diluted to concentrations generally notgreater than 0.7 ml nicotine by volume, which equals 5% nicotine byweight. Some other vape devices offer e-liquids at higherconcentrations, but none are close to the concentration of nicotine inblends of ready-to-vape precision pods, for example, comprising acrystalline cannabinoid and crystalline salt of nicotine.

A vaporizer includes an electronic heater with temperature regulator,oven or vaporization chamber (where the materials to be heated areplaced), cover for oven chamber, mouthpiece, sensors and a rechargeablebattery. Generally, as compared to burning Cannabis from smokingproducts, significantly more extraction of cannabinoids occurs withvaporizers heating Cannabis due to lack of combustion. Typicaltemperatures of vaporizers in the oven chamber range from about 160° C.to about 230° C. resulting in a vapor for inhalation; however, rangescan be wider (e.g., 100° C. to 265° C.) since higher temperatures areneeded for concentrates. Mainstream vapor is vapor that is inhaled andincludes the vapor that emerges from the mouth of a person using avaporizer or that emerges from the mouth end of a vaporizer.

Cannabis and Cannabis Formulations

“Cannabis” as used herein includes Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica andCannabis ruderalis. Both marijuana and hemp strains or cultivars areCannabis. Hemp is genetically more similar to the indica type ofmarijuana than to sativa strains. Cannabinoids are the group of morethan 100 natural chemical compounds that mainly accumulate in femaleflowers (also known as buds) of Cannabis plants. They act on cannabinoidreceptors in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain.THCA/THC is one of the dozens of cannabinoids present in Cannabisplants. Cannabinoids may be produced intrinsically by a geneticallyengineered tobacco plant, produced synthetically (see, for example, U.S.Pat. No. 9,587,212) or extracted from Cannabis plants for use onserts,precision rods and precision pods. When smokers cease smokingconventional cigarettes their levels of anxiety and depression usuallyincrease; therefore, very low nicotine cigarettes in conjunction with anonsert or precision rod comprising a minimal amount of crystalline CBDAis beneficial in assisting smokers to switch to e-cigarettes or atobacco heating device or to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether.For these applications, smoke from very low nicotine cigarettes alsocontaining non-THC cannabinoids from an onsert or precision rod is animprovement over smoke from very low nicotine cigarettes withoutcannabinoids. The greater period of time during a transitional periodsmokers are able to exclusively smoke very low nicotine cigarettes(while not smoking any conventional cigarettes), as disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/047,948, the greater probability of themswitching to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product or quittingtobacco and nicotine use altogether.

The psychoactive effects of THC are primarily mediated by the activationof cannabinoid receptors located throughout the body and are part of theendocannabinoid system, which is involved in a variety of physiologicalprocesses such as mood and appetite. Utilizing hemp strains (containingsignificant THCA content) or marijuana strains or varieties isproblematic to include in very low nicotine cigarettes to assist smokersin switching to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating device since thepsychoactive effects of THC would interfere with the daily lives ofsmokers in that their physical and mental control would be diminished.For example, a smoker attempting to switch to e-cigarettes or a tobaccoheating device would not be able to smoke very low nicotine cigarettescontaining significant levels of THCA during a lunch break while at workwithout becoming intoxicated and therefore may not be able to functionnormally upon returning to work and may become a danger to coworkers.Moreover, employees may fail drug tests if their very low nicotinecigarettes include Cannabis which contains THCA. Therefore, it is usefuland advantageous to include crystalline CBDA (and not Cannabis) from anonsert or precision rod in conjunction with very low nicotine cigarettesor conventional cigarettes, or from a precision pod in conjunction witha vaporizer to prevent any of the psychoactive effects of THC whileretaining the benefits CBD. Crystalline CBDA which is 99.5 percent puredoes not have any of the intoxicating effects of THC whatsoever.

The cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway in Cannabis sativa is understood.Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is the precursor to the three maincannabinoid lines: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). During decarboxylation,which occurs during drying and curing of the plant material and/or uponthe application of heat (e.g., smoking) to the cannabinoid acid, each ofthe following 8 cannabinoid acids: CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), THCA(Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), CBCA(cannabichromenenic acid), CBGVA (cannabigerovarinic acid), THCVA(tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid), CBDVA (cannabidivarinic acid) and CBCVA(cannabichromevarinic acid), converts to and yields the followingcorresponding 8 cannabinoid compounds: CBG (cannabigerol), THC(Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), CBC (cannabichromene),CBGV (cannabigerivarin), THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin), CBDV(cannabidivarin) and CBCV (cannabichromevarin). As Cannabis cures andmoisture is reduced, the cannabinoid compounds in their acidic formmature and are slowly converted into related compounds (e.g., THCA toTHC). Curing Cannabis and storing it over time only causes partialdecarboxylation to occur, which is the reason Cannabis flowers generallytest positive, for example, for both THCA and THC (designated herein asTHCA/THC). Smoking or vaporizing Cannabis will decarboxylatecannabinoids in acidic form (e.g., THCA to THC) due to the hightemperatures present, making them instantly available for absorptionthrough inhalation.

The cannabinoid acid content of the exemplary embodiments herein ofonserts, precision rods or precision pods such as CBDA includes thecorresponding cannabinoid since partial decarboxylation may haveoccurred to the cannabinoid acid such as CBDA to CBD. For example,during analytical testing of cannabinoid acids and cannabinoids ofonserts, precision rods, precision pods, Cannabis plants, Cannabisstrains and Cannabis varieties, an item that is quantified as containing24 mg CBDA and 1 mg CBD is equivalent to the item described herein as 25mg CBDA. Therefore, it is understood herein that due to the potentialpartial decarboxylation of cannabinoid acids to cannabinoids, acannabinoid acid and cannabinoid may at times be used interchangeablyand expressed as, in this instance, 25 mg CBDA, 25 mg CBD or 25 mgCBDA/CBD, all of which have the equivalent meaning.

Every strain or variety of Cannabis has a unique cannabinoid profile,which is the content of each cannabinoid in a batch or blend of Cannabisdivided by the total content of all cannabinoids, measured in percent,or the ratio of one or more cannabinoids to one or more othercannabinoids. An example of a cannabinoid profile in a 10-pound batch ofa Cannabis is that the THCA/THC content is 65 percent of the totalcontent of all cannabinoids and the remaining cannabinoids comprise theremaining 35 percent. The non-THCA/THC cannabinoids may be furthercharacterized. The ratio of THCA to CBDA is also an example of acannabinoid profile. Multiple samples are taken from a batch or plantand blended for testing purposes and more than one replicate may bedone. Regardless of Cannabis strains or variety, CBDA/CBD and THCA/THCare typically the two most prevalent cannabinoids in Cannabis. There'susually an inverse relationship between THCA and CBDA across Cannabisstrains and varieties. The higher the THCA/THC content, the lower theCBDA/CBD content, and the higher the CBDA/CBD content, the lower theTHCA/THC content. CBDA/CBD is generally the most abundant cannabinoidcombination in hemp strains or varieties. THCA/THC is generally the mostabundant cannabinoid combination in marijuana strains, which typicallycan be approximately between 10 and 20 percent of the weight of theCannabis flower. This CBDA-CBD/THCA-THC relationship of hemp andmarijuana is due to the fact that for centuries hemp has been bred forseed and biomass and therefore contains more CBDA/CBD, while marijuanahas been bred for pleasurable effects and therefore contains moreTHCA/THC. While THCA is the more accurate label for Cannabis flower thathas not been decarboxylated, THCA or THC are often used interchangeablyand are essentially equivalent if the flower is going to be smoked,vaporized or heated in some way since heat converts the remaining THCAto THC.

As described herein, precise dose formulations of blends of one or morecrystalline salts of nicotine and one or more crystalline cannabinoidsused with devices disclosed herein (onserts, precision rods andprecision pods) present many types of harm reduction productsparticularly for those smokers who simultaneously use tobacco andmarijuana. Tobacco enhances the pleasurable effects of marijuana whenboth are smoked simultaneously or when tobacco is smoked shortly aftermarijuana is smoked. This synergistic effect is due in part to thestimulatory properties of nicotine such as increased heart rate. Somesmokers combine tobacco and marijuana in blunts or spliffs. A blunt ismarijuana rolled in a tobacco leaf or cigar wrapper that comprisestobacco, and a spliff is a joint which also contains tobacco. Blunts andspliffs are combusted and therefore produce ‘tar’ and harmful gaseswhich contain thousands of chemicals. Inhaling smoke from burning highlypure forms of crystalline CBDA or THCA, for example, in conjunction withburning a crystalline salt of nicotine, and without any Cannabis andtobacco plant material, is less harmful than inhaling smoke from bluntsor spliffs since the blend of these pure or nearly-pure crystals resultsin a significant reduction of mainstream smoke for a given level ofcannabinoid and nicotine. Moreover, vaping highly pure, blended forms ofcrystalline THCA and a crystalline nicotine salt in precision pods, forexample, without any propylene glycol and glycerin or with very smallamounts (as compared to e-cigarettes), is less harmful than smoking ablunt or spliff. Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which are ine-liquids at high percentages, are considered safe and acceptablesubstances as food additives; however, there is insufficient data forinhaling these compounds long-term. During the summer of 2019, reportsbegan surfacing about irritated and inflamed lungs from vaping e-liquidsthat included oils containing THC and vitamin E acetate. Separately, astudy showed that inhaling nicotine-free e-cigarette aerosol transientlyimpacted endothelial function in healthy nonsmokers. See Caporale et al.2019, doi: 10.1148/radiol.2019190562. These highlight the usefulness ofthe devices disclosed herein which deliver formulations of activeingredients (e.g., nicotine and cannabinoids) that are concentratedwhile eliminating or minimizing the level of carriers such as propyleneglycol and glycerin. Whether smoked or vaped, for a given dose ofnicotine or THCA, for example, highly pure forms of THCA and/or salts ofnicotine result is less smoke being inhaled, as compared to blunts orspliffs, and less vapor being inhaled, as compared to vaping Cannabisflowers (buds).

Any extraction method known in the art may produce a cannabinoid acid incrystalline form or near crystalline form. These extracted cannabinoidacids, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, arepreferably at least 90 percent pure, more preferably at least 95 percentpure, more preferably at least 98 percent pure, more preferably at least99 percent pure, and most preferably at least 99.5 percent pure. Theseextraction methods include those with liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) undersupercritical or sub-critical conditions, followed by at least one otherfurther extraction, such as an ethanolic precipitation method to removea substantial proportion of any remaining non-cannabinoid materials suchas plant waxes, wax esters and glycerides, terpenes, carotenes,flavonoids and unsaturated fatty acid residues. See, for example, U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,700,368 and 8,846,409.

The combination of one or more cannabinoid acids and/or one or moresalts of nicotine may be included in any exemplary embodiment herein ofonserts, precision rods, or precision pods. Any cannabinoid acid,including those in crystalline or near crystalline form, may be utilizedincluding one or more cannabinoid acids selected from the following:CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid), THCA (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBDA(cannabidiolic acid), CBCA (cannabichromenenic acid), CBGVA(cannabigerovarinic acid), THCVA (tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid), CBDVA(cannabidivarinic acid) and CBCVA (cannabichromevarinic acid). Any saltof nicotine (nicotine salt), whether in crystalline form, nearcrystalline form, polymorphic crystalline form, and/or amorphous form,may be utilized including one or more selected from the following:nicotine 4-acetamidobenzoate, nicotine ascorbate, nicotine aspartate,nicotine benzoic, nicotine bitartrate, nicotine chloride such asnicotine dihydrochloride and nicotine hydrochloride, nicotine citrate,nicotine 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, nicotine 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate, nicotinefumarate, nicotine gentisate (2,5-hydroxybenzoic), nicotine glutamate,nicotine 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate, nicotine 3-hydroxybenzoate, nicotinelactate, nicotine levulinic, nicotine malate, nicotine mono-pyruvate,nicotine mucate, nicotine perchlorate, nicotine pyruvate, nicotinesalicylate, nicotine succinate, nicotine sulfate, nicotine tartrate andnicotine zinc chloride.

Flavorings and Additives

The onserts, precision rods and precision pods disclosed herein, inaddition to alkaloids and cannabinoids, may also contain any flavoringand/or additives. Smokers being able to customize their very lownicotine cigarettes with additives or characterizing flavorings duringthe treatment period of methods to facilitate switching smokers toe-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product, as disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/047,948, is crucial for smokers to bettertolerate these non-conventional cigarettes. For example, natural mentholcrystals from peppermint oil or oils of other mints may be included inany embodiment herein. Crystalline menthol is clear or white in colorand becomes a vapor when tobacco smoke goes through the crystals inprecision rods or when precision pods are heated in vaporizers causingthe menthol essence to permeate mainstream vapor. Menthol crystals, as asolid, blend well with crystalline cannabinoid acids and crystallinesalts of nicotine formulations. Any type of flavoring, whether or not incrystalline form, may be included in onserts, precision rods orprecision pods and other examples of characterizing flavors includevanilla (e.g., vanillin), cherry, grape, mango, orange, clove,blueberry, peach, cinnamon, coconut, licorice, chocolate, fruit, coffee,strawberry, pineapple, cucumber, lemon, lime, mint and toffee.Commercial cigarettes characterized and labeled ‘menthol’ containanywhere from about 2 mg to 20 mg of menthol. Any onsert, precision rodor precision pod may comprise an amount of the foregoing characterizingflavors of at least 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6 mg, 7 mg, 8 mg, 9mg, 10 mg, 11 mg, 12 mg, 13 mg, 14 mg, 15 mg, 16 mg, 17 mg, 18 mg, 19mg, 20 mg, 21 mg, 22 mg, 23 mg, 24 mg, 25 mg, 26 mg, 27 mg, 28 mg, 29mg, 30 mg, 31 mg, 32 mg, 33 mg, 34 mg, 35 mg, 36 mg, 37 mg, 38 mg, 39mg, 40 mg, 41 mg, 42 mg, 43 mg, 44 mg, 45 mg, 50 mg, et cetera.

Additives are also important to enhance some of the formulations of theonsert, precision rod and precision pod embodiments herein. For example,formulations of crystalline cannabinoids and salts of nicotine aredevoid of flavors and aromas since all of the plant terpenes have beenextracted or were never present in the case of compounds beingsynthesized. Terpenes are the pungent oils which give Cannabis itsdistinctive aroma and taste. Every strain has a distinct terpeneprofile. These Cannabis terpenes may be reintroduced into formulationsof onserts, precision rods and precision pods to add character such astaste and aroma to the smoke or vapor. Although more than 100 terpeneshave been identified, the most prevalent terpenes in Cannabis includemyrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene.

Additives may also be utilized in the exemplary embodiments of onserts,precision rods, or precision pods to ameliorate any harshness of acrystalline nicotine salt, other crystalline alkaloids, crystallinecannabinoids, and/or other crystalline compounds. The pH of the smoke orvapor produced from the formulations of onserts, precision rods andprecision pods is analyzed and adjusted accordingly by the addition ofingredients to shift the pH of the smoke or vapor. For example, if thepH of smoke generated from the formulation of a precision pod underdevelopment is greater than about 5.5, sugars, mild acids such as citricacid or fatty acids may be added to blends in precision pods, precisionrods or onserts. Plant materials or other constituents may also be addedto formulations herein which include plant parts, plant fractions, orplants constituents from herbs (e.g., jasmine or Ginseng), Cannabis,tobacco and/other plants.

Other functional additives such as preservatives or non-tobaccoalkaloids such as cytisine, also known as cytisinicline, are useful.Cytisine is a plant-based alkaloid present in many plant genera, such asCytisus and Laburnum (e.g., Cytisus laborinum or golden rain acacia).Cytisinicline has a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholinereceptor. It has been used as a smoking cessation treatment in pill formin some European countries. In some exemplary embodiments, including atleast 2 mg of cytisinicline in an onsert, precision rod or precision podreduces the urge to smoke conventional cigarettes and assists smokerstransitioning to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product or to quittobacco and nicotine use altogether.

In some aspects of the present invention, products and formulations areprovided for smokers to enhance the nicotine, anatabine and/or anabasinesmoke yield (i.e., levels) of smoking products such as factory-made verylow nicotine cigarettes to facilitate smokers, who are not interested inquitting tobacco and nicotine products altogether, to switch fromsmoking conventional cigarettes to using e-cigarettes or a tobaccoheating device. In this methodology, very low nicotine cigarettes may beutilized as a bridge between the smoker's usual cigarette brand ande-cigarettes or between the smoker's usual cigarette brand a tobaccoheating product.

In other aspects, products and formulations are provided for smokers toenhance the nicotine smoke yield of their factory-made conventionalcigarettes to reduce a smoker's exposure to cigarette smoke including‘tar’ and carbon monoxide.

In other aspects, products are provided for smokers to add newcharacterizing flavor(s) or to enhance flavor(s) in the smoke of smokingproducts such as cigarettes.

In other aspects, products are provided for smokers to add nicotine,anatabine and/or anabasine to marijuana cigarettes.

In other aspects, products are provided for smokers to includecannabinoids or other additives or constituents to their smokingproducts.

In other aspects, products and formulations are provided to allowsmokers to enjoy the effects of cannabinoids and nicotine without beingexposed to non-nicotine tobacco compounds.

Example 1

Onserts for Smoking Products

To enhance the nicotine smoke yield, nicotine is combined with onsertsfor the consumer to apply the onserts onto, around, or within smokingproducts such as cigarettes. The nicotine adhered or infused to theonsert is preferably in the form of a salt of nicotine. The onsert,which comprises of a wrapper made from or including cellulose (e.g.,reconstituted Cannabis), may be approximately as long as the smokingproduct such as a cigar and may be any shape or size including wideenough to wrap around a cigarette. As shown in the exemplary embodimentof FIGS. 1A-1C, an onsert 1 comprising a cellulosic wrapper 2 isconfigured for wrapping around the entire circumference of the cigaretterod 3 of a factory-made cigarette. The width of the cellulosic wrapper 2of the onsert 1 is larger than the circumference of the cigarette sothat both sides 4, 5 of the onsert overlap the cigarette rod tosufficiently seal the cigarette. The self-adhesive (self-stick) side 6of the onsert 1, which has self-stick adhesive around the entireperimeter (all four sides) 7 of the onsert, is rolled around thecigarette rod 3 while pressing the onsert to the cigarette rod 3. Asshown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the nicotine salt 8 or any other form ofnicotine (along with any other compounds or constituents the onsert maycomprise) is adhered to the cellulosic wrapper 2 of the onsert, and inthis exemplary embodiment, there is no nicotine on the opposite side 9of the onsert 1. Alternatively, in some exemplary embodiments, thenicotine and any other compounds or constituents are infused within thecellulosic wrapper during the production process by methods known in theart such as those for reconstituting plant materials (e.g.,reconstituted tobacco sheet or reconstituted Cannabis sheet). In otherexemplary embodiments, the nicotine is housed, that is, encased betweena closed pocket of opposing sheets (i.e., an encasement or closed pouch)by methods known in the art for producing sugar packets or silica gelpackets.

The entire cigarette rod 3 is now wrapped within the onsert 1, as shownin FIG. 1C. The onsert 1 and the cigarette are adhered to one anotherand the seal is improved by the smoker pressing along the length of thenicotine-enhanced cigarette at the seam 10. The self-stick onserts maybe packaged for distribution in any form such as on non-stick sheets(backing paper), each sheet comprising at least one onsert which ispeeled off the non-stick sheet, or the self-stick onserts may be on acontinuous roll of multiple onserts in series which are be peeled offthe roll one at a time from non-stick backing paper. Although self-stickonserts are preferred, adhesives may be utilized that are activated whenmoistened (e.g., licked) in order to stick. Any moisture activatedadhesive that is known in the art may be utilized on onserts.

Once the cigarette is lit and smoked, a portion of the nicotine from theonsert is transferred to, and becomes part of, the mainstream smoke. Theonsert may comprise of any cellulosic material in the form of a wrapperor strip which is burnable and smokable such as any paper or cellulosicmaterial, cigarette paper, reconstituted tobacco sheet including formsused to roll machine made cigars, reconstituted Cannabis sheet,formulations of hemp such as hemp paper, and/or cellulosic materialsmade from other plants such as herbal plants (e.g., Ginseng or jasmine).An advantage of the configuration of the onsert in FIGS. 1A-1C is thatother ingredients may be easily added to the onsert (between the onsertand cigarette) before the onsert is completely rolled around thecigarette.

In some exemplary embodiments, the onsert is fabricated by covering theonsert with a nicotine salt in conjunction with a binder, stabilizerand/or adhesive known in the art. In this methodology, for example,about 3 parts gum arabic (from the acacia tree and also known as arabicgum or acacia gum) are mixed with about 1 part glycerin and about ⅙ partwater in a container for 15 minutes resulting in an adhesive to hold thenicotine salt to the onsert. A thin coat of the binder, stabilizer oradhesive may be applied to uncut sheets after formation (e.g., hemppaper) on the same and/or opposite side of the self-adhesive side forsticking the onsert onto the cigarette. If the nicotine salt is appliedto the self-adhesive side, none is applied to where the adhesive ispresent such as around the perimeter 7 of the onsert, as shown in FIG.1A. The nicotine salt covering in powder or flake form is then appliedat the desired rate to one or both sides of the sheets shortly followingthe application of the binder, stabilizer or adhesive causing thenicotine salt coating to stick to the sheets. After drying, subsequentcoats of the binder, stabilizer or adhesive and nicotine salt may beapplied to the sheets. The binder, stabilizer or adhesive may be appliedas the final coat thereby better trapping the nicotine on the sheets.The uncut sheets are then cut into multiple onserts at the desired shapeand sizes. Onserts configured to wrap around the entire circumference ofthe smoking product may be any size such as those sizes to completelywrap around, for example, cigars or 100 mm cigarettes. Therefore, thesize and type of the smoking product in part dictates the size andconfiguration of the onsert. The amount of nicotine salt (and/or othercompounds) applied to the onsert is also based on the type andcharacteristics of the smoking product (e.g., ventilation level) and onthe level of increase of nicotine yield desired (or the level ofincrease in yield of any other compounds desired). The increase innicotine yield (or yield of other compounds) is therefore a function ofthe type and characteristics of the smoking product and the type andsize of the onserts being utilized, including the level compoundsincluded in or on the onsert.

In other exemplary embodiments, a nicotine salt along with othercompounds may be infused between two onsert sheets or among more thantwo onsert sheets, with or without the onsert sheets being covered withnicotine salts on the outside portions of each sheet. In thisfabrication arrangement, the gum arabic formulation above (or any otherbinder, stabilizer or adhesive formulation being utilized) may be usedto seal the edges of the two or more sheets or the onserts after thesheets are subsequently cut into multiple onserts for packaging.Self-stick onserts are preferably utilized in this embodiment for theconsumer to peel and stick the nicotine onsert onto a cigarette or othersmoking product. By not covering and adhering the onsert sheets withnicotine, the nicotine in this fabrication arrangement essentiallyremains in an encasement between the sheets for a neater consumerapplication.

The nicotine onserts disclosed herein (and the precision rods andprecision pods disclosed and described below) may also include otheralkaloids, flavors, cannabinoids, terpenes and/or other additives orconstituents. For example, any of the exemplary embodiments herein maybe carried out with anatabine or anabasine instead of nicotine or incombination with nicotine, including the exemplary onsert embodiments ofFIGS. 1A-1F, whether in nicotine salt formats, nicotine co-crystalformats, or nicotine salt co-crystal formats. Both anatabine andanabasine are alkaloids similar to nicotine and instead of producingsalts of nicotine, salts of anatabine or salts of anabasine may beproduced for anatabine-enhanced cigarettes and anabasine-enhancedcigarettes. Salts of nicotine may be blended with salts of anatabineand/or salts of anabasine, and salts of anatabine may be blended withsalts of anabasine for cigarettes or for marijuana cigarettes with anylevel or combination of enhanced nicotine, enhanced anatabine orenhanced anabasine. Synthetic versions of these alkaloids may also beutilized.

Each onsert, regardless of which type, may comprise one or morecompounds selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine,anabasine, flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolicacid (CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene. Each onsert maycomprise at least the following amounts of each of the aforementionedcompounds: 0.10 mg, 0.20 mg, 0.30 mg, 0.40 mg, 0.50 mg, 0.60 mg, 0.70mg, 0.80 mg, 0.90 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.1 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.3 mg, 1.4 mg, 1.5 mg,1.6 mg, 1.7 mg, 1.8 mg, 1.9 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6 mg, 7 mg, 8mg, 9 mg, 10 mg, 11 mg, 12 mg, 13 mg, 14 mg, 15 mg, 16 mg, 17 mg, 18 mg,19 mg, 20 mg, 21 mg, 22 mg, 23 mg, 24 mg, 25 mg, 26 mg, 27 mg, 28 mg, 29mg, 30 mg, 31 mg, 32 mg, 33 mg, 34 mg, 35 mg, 36 mg, 37 mg, 38 mg, 39mg, 40 mg, 41 mg, 42 mg, 43 mg, 44 mg, 45 mg, 46 mg, 47 mg, 48 mg, 49mg, 50 mg, 51 mg, 52 mg, 53 mg, 54 mg, 55 mg, 56 mg, 57 mg, 58 mg, 59mg, 60 mg, 61 mg, 62 mg, 63 mg, 64 mg, 65 mg, 66 mg, 67 mg, 68 mg, 69mg, 70 mg, 71 mg, 72 mg, 73 mg, 74 mg, 75 mg, 76 mg, 77 mg, 78 mg, 79mg, 80 mg, 81 mg, 82 mg, 83 mg, 84 mg, 85 mg, 86 mg, 87 mg, 88 mg, 89mg, 90 mg, 91 mg, 92 mg, 93 mg, 94 mg, 95 mg, 96 mg, 97 mg, 98 mg, 99mg, 100 mg, 110 mg, 120 mg, 130 mg, 140 mg, 150 mg, 160 mg, 170 mg, 180mg, 190 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, et cetera. For example, an onsert maycontain at least 30 mg of nicotine and not any other component listedabove or may contain, for example, at least 10 mg nicotine, at least 10mg THCA and at least 10 mg CBCA. An onsert may contain more than onealkaloid, compound or additive. In some exemplary embodiments, onsertssuch as the type of onsert shown in FIG. 1A may be utilized specificallyto directly roll Cannabis and/or tobacco including MYO or RYO finishedtobacco blends into the onsert. In other exemplary embodiments, onsertsmay comprise any of the aforementioned amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mgthrough at least 250 mg) of conventional tobacco, low nicotine tobacco,conventional Cannabis (i.e., marijuana) and/or very low THC Cannabis,with or without any of the aforementioned one or more compounds.

In some exemplary embodiments, the self-stick or moisture-activatedadhesive is on the same side of the cellulosic wrapper as the one ormore compounds, and in other embodiments, the adhesive is on theopposite side of the cellulosic wrapper as the one or more compounds. Instill other embodiments, the one or more compounds are within anencasement and the encasement may be in the middle of the cellulosicwrapper. An onsert may comprise of any compound or combination ofcompounds, whether the compounds are in an encasement within acellulosic wrapper or adhered to a cellulosic wrapper, including any ofthe above amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mg through at least 250 mg) ofnicotine, anatabine or anabasine not extracted from a Nicotiana plant;that is synthesized nicotine, anatabine or anabasine, and the onsert maycomprise any of the above amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mg through atleast 250 mg) of one or more of the following cannabinoid acids: THCA,CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, CBGVA, THCVA, CBDVA and CBCVA that are synthesized,that is, produced outside a Cannabis plant.

Any strain, variety or blend of Cannabis may be enhanced by onsertscomprising one or more cannabinoids for rolling a marijuana strain,variety or blend of Cannabis flowers or other plant parts into theonsert such as the type of onsert shown in FIG. 1A. This is sometimesrequired since the cannabinoid profile of the dozens of cannabinoids,including the THCA/CBDA ratio and content, of flowers of the samemarijuana strain can vary significantly from one harvest to another,especially when grown in different growing conditions. These onserts maybe nicotine free and tobacco free and are an ideal way to modify thecannabinoid profile of the smoke from any strain, variety or blend ofCannabis flowers without requiring an additional strain, variety orblend of Cannabis flowers. For example, an onsert may comprise THCA,CBDA, CBGA, and/or any other cannabinoid for Cannabis users to eitherfortify their marijuana cigarettes, blunts, or spliffs or to change thecannabinoid profile of the smoke from any strain, variety or blend ofCannabis in order to achieve desired effects.

In addition to the advantage of any compounds being present on theonsert so that they are included as a new compound not present in thesmoking product or provided as an adjunct to a compound already presentin the smoking product, the design of the onsert shown in FIG. 1A fordirectly rolling Cannabis and/or tobacco into the onsert has otherimportant advantages over typical RYO cigarettes or RYO marijuanacigarettes. For example, the onsert is more convenient and less messyespecially when implemented as a self-stick onsert, the onsert providesa seal on all four sides thereby reducing smoke dilution from unwantedair flow caused by loose rolls. Also, less tobacco or Cannabis can beused, especially if the nicotine and/or cannabinoids included with theonserts are pure or semi-pure (e.g., ≥90 pure). In fact, as compared toa cigarette (with or without added cannabinoids), which averages about650 mg of tobacco (plus the weight of any cannabinoids), an onsert for asmoking product comprising, for example, 20 mg THCA, 10 mg of a nicotinesalt, and 200 mg of plant material (whether it is tobacco, Cannabis or ablend of the two) rolled into the onsert translates into a smokingproduct with about 69 percent less plant material. This in turn meansthat there will be a significant reduction in smoke inhalation including‘tar’ inhalation from the onsert, as compared to an average cigarette(with or without added cannabinoids). There will also be a significantreduction in carcinogenic TSNAs since less tobacco is used inconjunction with the onsert.

In some exemplary embodiments, synthetic nicotine may be the only activeingredient included with an onsert (or with a precision rod) so thatCannabis users can enjoy the effects of nicotine (not extracted fromtobacco) with their Cannabis. Whether synthetic nicotine or nicotineextracted from a Nicotiana plant is utilized, onserts (or a precisionrod comprising nicotine) that provide nicotine to the mainstream smokefrom marijuana cigarettes (e.g., Cannabis rolled with an onsert such asthe onsert in FIGS. 1A-1C) effectively eliminates the need to includeany tobacco and the result is a less harmful smoking product, ascompared to a spliff, since less plant material needs to be combustedbecause tobacco is not needed for its nicotine content, thereby reducingsmoke inhalation and eliminating tobacco carcinogens such as TSNAs.

It will be appreciated that onserts herein may be any shape or form andany self-stick adhesive (or other adhesives such as those that requiremoisture to activate) on the onsert may be continuous or in any pattern.For example, the self-stick adhesive is on all four sides 7 surroundingthe nicotine salt 8 of the onsert 1 in FIG. 1A. In modified exemplaryembodiments, one, two or three sides of the onsert may comprise theself-stick adhesive (or other adhesives such as those that requiremoisture to activate), or one or more additional strips of adhesive maybe added such as through either axis of symmetry of the onsert. Anypercentage of either side of an onsert may be comprised of an adhesive.Onserts, including the onserts of FIGS. 1A-1F, may also contain filters,which would be attached to one end of the onsert. Burn accelerators orash conditioners may be included in or on the onserts. It will also beappreciated that onserts may actually be used as more of an ‘insert’ inthat they may be stuck to the inside of roll-your-own (RYO) rollingpapers or placed inside of empty make-your-own (MYO) cigarette tubes (ormixed into the loose tobacco or Cannabis for RYO or MYO) before thesmoking product is rolled or made by a smoker (i.e., the onsert ishidden after the RYO smoking product is rolled or the after the MYOsmoking product is made). When used in this fashion, the transfer rateof one or more alkaloids, flavors, cannabinoids, terpenes, and/or otheradditives into the mainstream smoke of the smoking product is typicallyhigher, as compared to placing an identical onsert on the outside of thesmoking product (e.g., placed on a filled MYO cigarette). Of course, foronserts made specifically to be placed on the inside of RYO or MYOsmoking products, the self-stick adhesive feature is optional as is anyother adhesive that is activated when moistened (e.g., licked) in orderto stick to the smoking product. These exemplary embodiments of onsertswhich may be inserted into a smoking product may not comprise of anyadhesives to stick to smoking products.

FIGS. 1D-1F show exemplary configurations of self-adhesive (self-stick)onserts comprising of cellulosic wrappers which differ in shape from theonsert in FIGS. 1A-1C. As shown in FIG. 1D, the first type of onsertincludes a circular window 11 with either two wings 12 or four wings 13and comprises one or more alkaloids, flavors, cannabinoids, terpenes,and/or other additives. Each of these onserts are positioned around thecircular tip of a smoking product such as a cigarette, cigar ormarijuana cigarette and the wings, which may be any length, are extendedand stuck to the smoking product. Another type are elongated onserts 14shown in FIG. 1E, which may be positioned, for example, both in parallelalong the side of a smoking product such as a cigar or one or bothonserts may be wrapped around the smoking product. The alkaloids,flavors, cannabinoids, terpenes, and/or other additives of the onsertsin the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1D-1E, may be encased between aclosed pocket of opposing sheets of the onsert, adhered to either sideof the onserts by an adhesive, or infused within the onsert during theproduction process of the onsert.

Another type of onsert configuration is a web pattern onsert shown inexemplary embodiment of FIG. 1F, which is similar to the onsert of FIGS.1A-1C as it pertains to function since the onsert may be wrapped arounda smoking product such as a cigarette, be used in conjunction withtobacco and/or Cannabis to roll (RYO) a cigarette, marijuana cigarette,blunt or spliff, or simply may be rolled and smoked by itself withoutany interdependent smoking product. On the self-stick adhesive side ofthe onsert 15, there may be one, two, three or four sides of adhesivearound the webbing 16, which comprises the alkaloids, flavors,cannabinoids, terpenes and/or other additives encased in the webbingthat is in front of a back sheet 17. These types of non-continuous(i.e., webbed) onserts may be any shape or size and may cover anyportion of a smoking product.

In some exemplary embodiments, the onserts may be included inside of apack of factory-made cigarettes or may be bundled together (e.g., 20)and adhered to the outside of a cigarette pack or rolling paper box as apackage onsert. An advantage of packaging the nicotine onserts within oron factory-made cigarette packs is the convenience such packagingpresents when an adjunct amount of nicotine may be required by somesmokers when using very low nicotine cigarettes to exclusively switchfrom smoking conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes or a tobaccoheating device, as outlined in U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/047,948. These nicotine enhanced cigarettes (e.g., nicotine onsertsplus very low nicotine cigarettes) assist the smoker to exclusively usethe very low nicotine cigarettes during the treatment period, asdirected by the protocol, so that the smoker does not cheat and smokeconventional cigarettes during the treatment period. The adjunct amountof nicotine provided by the nicotine onsert(s) may increase the nicotinesmoke yield, for example, from 0.04 mg to 0.10 mg per cigarette.Although the nicotine smoke yield more than doubled in this example, the0.10 mg nicotine yield is still dramatically lower than the typical 1 mgnicotine yield of conventional cigarettes. Nicotine onserts providing anadjunct amount of nicotine to factory-make conventional cigarettesafford great flexibility to smokers customizing their cigarettes in theinterest of smoking less of each cigarette. A nicotine-enhancedcigarette in which an onsert comprising nicotine has been attached to aconventional cigarette results in a reduction of the tar-to-nicotineratio.

Example 2

Precision Rods for Smoking Products

Precision rods comprising an exact amount of one or more flavors,alkaloids, cannabinoids, terpenes and/or other additives, orconstituents are fabricated to be inserted into a smoking product toremain in the smoking product during the combustion of the smokingproduct with the purpose of transferring one or more flavors, alkaloids,cannabinoids, terpenes and/or other additives, or constituents into themainstream smoke generated by the smoking product. Precision rodsprovide precisely quantified formulations of compounds of interest aseither an adjunct to the intrinsic content of one or more compoundsalready included in smoking product or as one or more new compounds.There are three types of precision rods. The first type of precision rodis comprised of materials that combust and burn down as the smokingproduct burns down such as a cigar. Suitable cellulosic materials ofthese types of precision rods are those which have an ignitiontemperature of equal to or less than 350 degrees Celsius. Ignitiontemperature is the least temperature at which a substance startscombustion. These materials must also be sufficiently rigid (or bydesign can be made to be sufficiently rigid) to be inserted into, forexample, the tobacco end of a filtered cigarette and can be burned withthe smoking product without presenting unacceptable levels of toxinsinto the mainstream smoke of the smoking product. Examples of suitablematerials for cellulosic precision rods include but are not limited tofiberboard, paper, paperboard or other cellulosic or woody materials,which are preferably produced from hemp or reconstituted hemp, tobaccoor reconstituted tobacco, or other plants in which the flavor, alkaloid,cannabinoid, terpene, and/or other additives, or constituents ofinterest, are adhered to or housed (contained) within a chamber orhollow space in the precision rod. In some exemplary embodiments ofprecision rods (and precision pods), the compounds and constituents areincluded in reconstituted hemp, reconstituted tobacco, or other plantmaterial that has been reconstituted, which is then included in thespace or inner chamber of precision rods (or in the compartment ofprecision pods).

As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A, a cellulosic precisionrod 18 is comprised of six layers of multi-ply paperboard 19 in whicheach layer of the multi-ply paperboard is covered, for example, by anicotine salt (and/or any other compounds), and then all the layers arebound together by a binder or adhesive that is designated, GenerallyRecognized As Safe (GRAS), by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA). A cellulosic precision rod may comprise of one or more layers ofa cellulosic material. One or more layers of the cellulosic precisionrod are bound together during the production process of the layer(s) sothat no additional binder or adhesive is necessary. The entire assembledprecision rod may be covered with a thin GRAS coating or film so thatthe compounds are sealed onto the precision rod and they don't get onthe user's hands. In other exemplary embodiments, one or two thicklayers may be utilized for a cellulosic precision rod, and these typesof cellulosic precision rods that utilize thick layers may also compriseat least one chamber or hollow space to house greater amounts of anicotine salt and/or other compounds.

The second type of precision rod in other exemplary embodiments iscomprised of materials that do not combust or burn down as the smokingproduct burns down and have an ignition temperature of more than 350degrees Celsius. These precision rods comprise of one or more flavors,alkaloids, cannabinoids, terpenes, and/or other additives, orconstituents of interest, and are fabricated to be inserted into eitherend of the smoking product to remain in the smoking product during thecombustion of the smoking product with the purpose of transferring thesecompounds or constituents to the mainstream smoke generated by thesmoking product. Examples of suitable flame-resistant, rigid materialsinclude but are not limited to fused quartz or silica, ceramics such asearthenware or porcelain, or non-toxic ultra-high-temperature ceramics.For embodiments in which only a few puffs will be taken so that theprecision rod cannot escape the smoking product and burn the smoker,non-toxic metal or metal alloys such as titanium or food-grade stainlesssteel may be employed.

As shown in FIG. 2B, there are three exemplary embodiments ofcylindrical precision rods of various sizes that do not combust or burndown as the smoking product burns down, including the first precisionrod 20. These three precision rods comprise of an inner chamber to housecompounds and/or plant materials. The inner chamber 21 begins at theopening at the end of the first precision rod 20, has a diameter ofabout 1.25 mm and a length of about 13 mm. The first precision rod 20comprises about 15 mg of a salt of nicotine in powder form (density ofabout 900 kg/m3) within the inner chamber 21. One end of each precisionrod may be pointed for easy insertion into any smoking product such as afactory-made cigarette. A precision rod comprises of one or more holesor vents which also lead to the inner chamber 21. There are variousholes 22 across each precision rod in FIG. 2B (only a portion of themare labeled). The number of holes or vents depends on the type ofsmoking product, the type of compounds or constituents included in theprecision rod and their boiling points, the amount of each compound inthe precision rod, and the total weight of contents in the precisionrod. The holes or vents and the end opening of a precision rod, all ofwhich lead to the inner chamber, facilitate the flow of air, heat andsmoke entering and exiting the precision rod. The end opening and holesor vents of a precision rod may be sealed with arabic gum or any GRASmaterial which easily melts upon being heated. The holes or vents may bekept unsealed, in which case the particle sizes of the compounds aremade larger than the holes or vents, and during production the compoundsare inserted through the end opening. The end opening may be coveredwith a peel off tab which the consumer removes before inserting theprecision rod into the smoking product. The entire precision rod may besealed with plastic for the consumer to peel off before use.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the precision rod 20 of FIG. 2B has been insertedinto a cigarette 23. Upon the nicotine-enhanced cigarette being smoked,which now includes the precision rod, the holes allow air, heat andsmoke to enter the precision rod as nicotine (and/or other compounds inother exemplary embodiments) contained within the rod vaporizes andpermeate into the mainstream smoke. Once the nicotine-enhanced cigarette23 (or other smoking product in other embodiments) is partially smokeddown, the cigarette may be snuffed out or the precision rod may bereleased with the ashes of the cigarette. The smoker will likely besatisfied with only a portion of the nicotine-enhanced cigarette beingsmoked (e.g., 40%) due to the adjunct nicotine in the precision rod of15 mg. The smoker may dispose of the partially smoked cigarette or maysave the unsmoked portion for later when another precision rod can beinserted into the remaining portion of the cigarette. In either case,the smoker inhales approximately half of the smoke, which includes‘tar,’ as compared to smoking the same cigarette without the precisionrod. The amount of nicotine inhaled is about the same as if the samecigarette without the precision rod was smoked since the averagecigarette contains about 15 mg of nicotine; the same amount in theprecision rod. In addition to reducing harm, the smoker also has theoption of benefitting economically by purchasing fewer cigarettes if theother half of each cigarette is saved.

The first two types of precision rods may also be inserted into themouth end of a smoking product which may be the filter of a smokingproduct such as a filtered cigarette or filtered cigar. For example, aprecision rod comprising 8 mg of menthol crystals may be inserted intothe mouth end (e.g., filter end) of a cigarette. The holes or vents ofprecision rods allow the essence of the menthol crystals to enter themainstream smoke and deliver menthol sensations and satisfaction to thesmoker. Since smoking very low nicotine cigarettes do not result in anysignificant throat impact, as compared to smoking conventionalcigarettes, menthol or other flavoring(s) in precision rods increase theacceptability of very low nicotine cigarettes, which facilitate smokersquitting tobacco products altogether and facilitate smokers switching toe-cigarettes or a tobacco heating device (as disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/047,948). E-cigarettes and tobacco heatingdevices are both generally accepted to be much less harmful than smokingcigarettes. Vaping e-cigarettes, for example, is believed to beapproximately 90 percent less harmful than smoking cigarettes.

The third type of precision rod is used in conjunction with a flavorinjection system. This type of precision rod also comprises one or moreflavors, alkaloids, cannabinoids, terpenes and/or other additives, orconstituents, and is inserted into a smoking product such as one or morecigarettes or cigars. The compounds in the inner chamber are injectedinto the smoking product and the precision rod is then removed from thesmoking product. As shown in FIG. 2D, the flavor injection systemcomprises a precision rod 24 and a plunger mechanism 25. The plungermechanism 25 includes a plunger which is not shown in FIG. 2D. Theprecision rod 24 includes a fastening mechanism at one end, which inthis exemplary embodiment is thread 26 so that the precision rod can bescrewed into the thread 27 of the plunger mechanism 25. The precisionrod includes an end hole 28, which is the beginning of the inner chamberthat houses the compounds or constituents before they are injected intoa smoking product. Once the precision rod 24 is inserted into a smokingproduct and the precision rod and the plunger mechanism 25 are thenconnected (or the order may be reversed), the plunger, which isconnected to the plunger mechanism, is pushed into the plunger mechanism25 and the contents in the precision rod are emptied into the smokingproduct. Upon the smoking product being ignited, the mainstream smoke ofthe smoking product will be infused with the one or more compounds (andany constituents) now included in the smoking product.

In some exemplary embodiments, the flavor injection system and theprecision rod are one piece and do not have to be connected. Theflavors, alkaloids, cannabinoids, terpenes and/or other additives orconstituents may be loaded directly into the plunger mechanism orprecision rod by a variety of ways. For example, the plunger may beremoved from the plunger mechanism, and the compounds and constituentsare emptied or placed into the plunger mechanism which pass through tothe precision rod. The plunger is then reattached. The flavor injectionsystem is now ready to infuse a smoking product with the contents in theflavor injection system. Any of the foregoing exemplary embodiments offlavor injection systems may be automated with any type of machine inwhich one or more smoking products, i.e., one or more cigarettes, forexample, are infused with compounds at once or in succession.

Each precision rod, regardless of which of the three types, may compriseone or more compounds selected from the group consisting of nicotine,anatabine, anabasine, flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA),cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA),cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA),cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA),cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA), myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene,limonene and humulene. Each of the three types of precision rods maycomprise at least the following amounts of one or more of theaforementioned compounds: 0.10 mg, 0.20 mg, 0.30 mg, 0.40 mg, 0.50 mg,0.60 mg, 0.70 mg, 0.80 mg, 0.90 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.1 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.3 mg, 1.4mg, 1.5 mg, 1.6 mg, 1.7 mg, 1.8 mg, 1.9 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6mg, 7 mg, 8 mg, 9 mg, 10 mg, 11 mg, 12 mg, 13 mg, 14 mg, 15 mg, 16 mg,17 mg, 18 mg, 19 mg, 20 mg, 21 mg, 22 mg, 23 mg, 24 mg, 25 mg, 26 mg, 27mg, 28 mg, 29 mg, 30 mg, 31 mg, 32 mg, 33 mg, 34 mg, 35 mg, 36 mg, 37mg, 38 mg, 39 mg, 40 mg, 41 mg, 42 mg, 43 mg, 44 mg, 45 mg, 46 mg, 47mg, 48 mg, 49 mg, 50 mg, 51 mg, 52 mg, 53 mg, 54 mg, 55 mg, 56 mg, 57mg, 58 mg, 59 mg, 60 mg, 61 mg, 62 mg, 63 mg, 64 mg, 65 mg, 66 mg, 67mg, 68 mg, 69 mg, 70 mg, 71 mg, 72 mg, 73 mg, 74 mg, 75 mg, 76 mg, 77mg, 78 mg, 79 mg, 80 mg, 81 mg, 82 mg, 83 mg, 84 mg, 85 mg, 86 mg, 87mg, 88 mg, 89 mg, 90 mg, 91 mg, 92 mg, 93 mg, 94 mg, 95 mg, 96 mg, 97mg, 98 mg, 99 mg, 100 mg, 110 mg, 120 mg, 130 mg, 140 mg, 150 mg, 160mg, 170 mg, 180 mg, 190 mg, 200 mg, et cetera. For example, a precisionrod may contain at least 30 mg of anatabine and not any other componentlisted above or may contain at least 10 mg nicotine, at least 10 mg THCAand at least 10 mg CBGVA. A precision rod may contain more than onealkaloid, compound or additive. In some exemplary embodiments, each ofthe three types of precision rods may further comprise any of theaforementioned amounts, i.e., at least 0.10 mg through at least 200 mg,of conventional tobacco, low nicotine tobacco, conventional Cannabis(i.e., marijuana) and/or very low THC Cannabis, with or without any ofthe aforementioned one or more compounds.

In other exemplary embodiments, a precision rod may comprise any of theaforementioned amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mg through at least 200 mg)of nicotine, anatabine or anabasine not extracted from a Nicotianaplant; that is synthesized nicotine, anatabine or anabasine, and theymay comprise any of the aforementioned amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mgthrough at least 200 mg) of one or more of the following cannabinoidacids: THCA, CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, CBGVA, THCVA, CBDVA and CBCVA that aresynthesized, that is, produced outside a Cannabis plant. For example, aprecision rod may contain 30 mg of THCA and not any other componentlisted above or may contain 10 mg nicotine, 10 mg THCA and 10 mg CBCA. Aprecision rod may also contain more than one alkaloid, flavor or otheradditive.

Precision rods may be any shape or length and depend in part on theamount of flavor, alkaloid, cannabinoid and/or other additive desired tobe transferred to the mainstream smoke. Elongated shapes with a pointedend are generally preferred for easier insertion into smoking productssuch as cigars. Precision rods may be fabricated including, for example,CBDA crystalline (e.g., 20 mg), which is ‘pure’ CBD and resembles sugar.The crystalline CBDA or any other crystalline cannabinoid may beprovided by any method known in the art such as supercritical CO2extraction processes followed by various pass throughs of purificationby ethanolic precipitation, for example, in order to remove remainingimpurities until the CBDA is approximately 99 percent pure. Thepreparation is then ground to a size no smaller than about 100 micronsor so and may be blended with other compounds or constituents and it'sthen incorporated into the precision rod. These precision rods may beutilized by smokers using very low nicotine cigarettes to transition toe-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product, or for quitting tobacco andnicotine products altogether; the methods and products of which aredisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/047,948. Precision rodsmay contain any combination of flavors, alkaloids, cannabinoids and/orother additives, or constituents. For example, and for recreationalpurposes, a precision rod may contain 10 mg nicotine, 10 mg of CBDAcrystalline, 20 mg of THCA crystalline, and 10 mg of menthol crystals.

Any onsert, insert, or precision rod disclosed herein may be applied toany type of cigarette, including make-your-own (MYO) cigarettes in whichthe adjunct nicotine source may be positioned on the inside of the emptycigarette tube before filling the tube with tobacco, and roll-your-own(RYO) cigarettes in which the adjunct nicotine source may be positionedon the inside of a flat rolling paper before the tobacco is rolled.Otherwise, the onsert, insert, or precision rod may be used with MYO andRYO cigarettes (that are already filled with tobacco) similarly to howthey are used with factory-made cigarettes. Any onsert, insert, orprecision rod disclosed herein may be applied to any other type ofsmoking product such as cigars or marijuana smoking products (e.g.,joints), whether these smoking products are factory made or hand made byconsumers. For example, after removing some tobacco from the tobacco endof a factory-made cigarette, an onsert or precision rod may be placedwithin that tobacco end, and a portion of the removed tobacco may be putback into the cigarette before lighting the cigarette.

Example 3

Precision Pods for Vaporizers and Smoking Products

Tobacco and Cannabis users lack the capability, including productdevices and formulations, to conveniently vape or smoke a preciselyquantified amount of solid or semi solid form of nicotine andcannabinoids such as one or more crystalline cannabinoid acids inconjunction with one or more crystalline alkaloids (with or withoutterpenes, flavors and other additives, or plant constituents).Ready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke precision pods are configured for usewith vaporizers, pipes, bongs, bowls and the like for the purpose ofconveniently vaping or smoking an exact pre-measured and blended amountof one or more compounds, which the precision pods comprise, such ascannabinoids and alkaloids with both the cannabinoid and alkaloid in asolid or semi-solid form. In some exemplary embodiments, preciseformulations of blended crystalline cannabinoid acid(s) and crystallinesalt(s) of nicotine are provided in precision pods. Precision pods areadvantageous on many fronts, especially for those who simultaneouslysmoke or vape tobacco and Cannabis or for those who may not necessarilysmoke or vape tobacco and Cannabis simultaneously, but are dual users oftobacco and Cannabis.

From a harm reduction standpoint, vaping crystalline cannabinoid acid(s)and a crystalline salt of nicotine in ready-to-vape precision pods isless harmful than vaping marijuana buds and tobacco together or vapingan e-cigarette and marijuana buds separately. In the exemplary precisionpod embodiments for a vaporizer, less vapor is required to inhale for agiven dose of nicotine or a cannabinoid in a solid or semi solid format,as compared to vaping tobacco and Cannabis together or separately sincethe active ingredients are much more concentrated in solid or semi-solidformats (e.g., crystalline compounds) included in precision pods. Forexample, e-liquids of e-cigarettes contain less than 6 percent nicotine(more than about 95 percent non-active ingredients), and e-liquids ofmedical vape pens typically contain concentrates of less than 50%cannabinoids which are not crystalline. In contrast, precision podseither do not include any carriers such as propylene glycol or glycerin,or they contain just enough to mimic the moisture levels found intobacco products or Cannabis buds (about 10 to about 17 percent). Theresult is that ready-to-vape crystalline blends of compounds inprecision pods are less harmful to the lungs since the activeingredients are much more concentrated resulting in less vapor requiredto be inhaled for a given dose of nicotine or a given dose of acannabinoid.

Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin are designated, GenerallyRecognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA for ingestion as food additives,but not for inhalation; however, even though using e-cigarettes iswidely believed to be less harmful than smoking cigarettes (since smokeis not produced and inhaled), there is insufficient long-term data forinhaling large amounts of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin frome-cigarettes. Vaping a highly pure crystalline nicotine salt with blendsof crystalline cannabinoid acid formulations, for example, without anypropylene glycol or glycerin or with low amounts of these carriers(e.g., 5-15 percent by weight of the total blend in the precision pod),results in less mainstream vapor which is less harmful to the lungs, ascompared to vaping e-liquids containing a very large proportion ofpropylene glycol and/or glycerin (e.g., 90%) or vaping whole Cannabisflowers or vaping less concentrated forms of cannabinoids.

Likewise, and for those who prefer to smoke and not vape, ready-to-smokeprecision pods allow smokers to inhale smoke from highly pure forms ofcannabinoids and nicotine. Ready-to-smoke precision pods comprisingblends of solid or semi solid crystalline cannabinoid acids (e.g., CBDAand/or THCA) and a salt of nicotine (with or without terpenes, flavors,and/or other additives) contained in the compartment of a precision podand smoked in a pipe or bowl result in a significant reduction of smokegenerated and inhaled for a given level of a cannabinoid and for a givenlevel of nicotine, as compared to smoking blunts, spliffs, orfactory-made cigarettes comprising cannabinoids. Since tobacco-relateddiseases are dose dependent on the cumulative level of tobacco smoke,reducing smoke intake reduces harm. Indeed, the more non-tobaccomaterial (e.g., cannabinoids) in the filler of a conventional,factory-made cigarette, the more likely smokers are to compensate forthe reduced levels of nicotine including taking larger puffs, more puffsper cigarette, or more cigarettes per day. A conventional cigarettecomprised of any significant portion of cannabinoids in the filler mayin fact increase harm to the smoker since a portion of the tobacco, andtherefore nicotine, is being reduced. It would be impossible to reducenicotine levels of a conventional cigarette to levels of a very lownicotine cigarette, in which compensation does not occur, by replacing80 to 90 percent of the tobacco with cannabinoids since at that point,the cigarette would not function.

Ready-to-smoke precision pods allow the smoker to achieve the samenicotine satisfaction with significantly less smoke, and importantly,there are no carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) andother tobacco-related compounds that result from smoking blunts,spliffs, or factory-made cigarettes comprising cannabinoids. If a formof synthetic nicotine is utilized, the precision pod is 100 percenttobacco free. In addition to being less harmful by reducing smokeexposure, as compared to smoking blunts, spliffs or other smokingproducts such as factory-made cigarettes comprising cannabinoids,ready-to-smoke precision pods comprised of crystalline THCA/THCeliminate the guesswork as to the type and magnitude of intoxicatingeffects for a given level and ratio of blended compounds since theformulations are consistent due to their purity levels. Flavors,terpenes and other additives, or constituents such as plant constituents(e.g., minimal amounts of very low THC Cannabis) may also beincorporated into precision pod formulations at minimal levels.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3A, a precision pod 29 inthe shape of a hexagonal prism comprises a blend of a nicotine salt(which may comprise any single or combination of the foregoing listednicotine salts), crystalline THCA, crystalline CBDA and menthol crystalswithin the compartment of the precision pod 29. Appropriate levels ofameliorators are added to the blend to smooth out the smoke and removeharshness, and propylene glycol and/or glycerin may also be included sothat the blend has the appropriate moisture level. Between about 12 andabout 14 percent is the ideal moisture level for tobacco filler andCannabis flowers. The moisture level of formulations of ready-to-smokeprecision pods depends on many factors including the boiling pointtemperature and amount of each compound (and any plant constituents) inthe formulation, and the boiling point and total amount of the blend.Different formulations may have different moisture levels. Thesecompounds have been blended together and are in a solid or semi-solidform. Precision pods may comprise two or more vents. The precision pod29 in FIG. 3A comprises many vents (only one is labeled). A precisionpod's vents are for ventilation of inbound air into the compartment andoutbound smoke or vapor out of the compartment for inhalation.

Each ready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke precision pod may comprise two ormore compounds selected from the group consisting of nicotine,anatabine, anabasine, flavor, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA),cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabichromenenic acid (CBCA),cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA),tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA),cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA), myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene,limonene and/or humulene. Each ready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke precisionpod may comprise at least the following amounts of each of theaforementioned compounds: 0.10 mg, 0.20 mg, 0.30 mg, 0.40 mg, 0.50 mg,0.60 mg, 0.70 mg, 0.80 mg, 0.90 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.1 mg 1.2 mg, 1.3 mg, 1.4mg, 1.5 mg, 1.6 mg, 1.7 mg, 1.8 mg, 1.9 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, 6mg, 7 mg, 8 mg, 9 mg, 10 mg, 11 mg, 12 mg, 13 mg, 14 mg, 15 mg, 16 mg,17 mg, 18 mg, 19 mg, 20 mg, 21 mg, 22 mg, 23 mg, 24 mg, 25 mg, 26 mg, 27mg, 28 mg, 29 mg, 30 mg, 31 mg, 32 mg, 33 mg, 34 mg, 35 mg, 36 mg, 37mg, 38 mg, 39 mg, 40 mg, 41 mg, 42 mg, 43 mg, 44 mg, 45 mg, 46 mg, 47mg, 48 mg, 49 mg, 50 mg, 51 mg, 52 mg, 53 mg, 54 mg, 55 mg, 56 mg, 57mg, 58 mg, 59 mg, 60 mg, 61 mg, 62 mg, 63 mg, 64 mg, 65 mg 66 mg, 67 mg,68 mg, 69 mg, 70 mg, 71 mg, 72 mg, 73 mg, 74 mg, 75 mg 76 mg, 77 mg, 78mg, 79 mg, 80 mg, 81 mg, 82 mg, 83 mg, 84 mg, 85 mg, 86 mg, 87 mg, 88mg, 89 mg, 90 mg, 91 mg, 92 mg, 93 mg, 94 mg, 95 mg, 96 mg, 97 mg, 98mg, 99 mg, 100 mg, 110 mg, 120 mg, 130 mg, 140 mg, 150 mg, 160 mg, 170mg, 180 mg 190 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, 300 mg, et cetera. For example, aprecision pod may comprise at least 10 mg CBDA, at least 5 mg nicotineand at least 5 mg menthol. As a smoking cessation treatment or to assisttransitioning smokers to a tobacco heating product or e-cigarettes, asdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/047,948, any of theaforementioned amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mg to at least 300 mg) oflow nicotine tobacco and/or very low THC Cannabis may be included inprecision pods along with at least one of the aforementioned compoundsfor ready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke precision pods.

In some exemplary embodiments, a precision pod may comprise any of theaforementioned amounts (i.e., at least 0.10 mg through at least 300 mg)of nicotine, anatabine or anabasine not extracted from a Nicotianaplant; that is synthesized nicotine, anatabine or anabasine, and aprecision pod may comprise any of the aforementioned amounts (i.e., atleast 0.10 mg through at least 300 mg) of two or more of the followingcannabinoid acids: THCA, CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, THCVA, CBDVA, CBCVA and CBGVAthat are synthesized, that is, produced outside a Cannabis plant. Inother exemplary embodiments, any of the aforementioned amounts (i.e., atleast 0.10 mg through at least 300 mg) of conventional tobacco, lownicotine tobacco, conventional Cannabis (i.e., marijuana) and/or verylow THC Cannabis may be included in ready-to-vape or ready-to-smokeprecision pods along with at least one of the following compounds:nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, flavor, THCA, CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, THCVA,CBDVA, CBCVA and CBGVA, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and/orhumulene.

In some exemplary embodiments, ready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke precisionpods each comprises at least 5 mg of tobacco (conventional or very lownicotine) and/or at least 5 mg of Cannabis (marijuana or very low THCCannabis) and at least 2 mg of one or more of the aforementionedcompounds such as THCVA (Tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid). Forready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke precision pods (and onserts or precisionrods) herein, low nicotine tobacco means tobacco with a nicotine contentequal to or less than 3 mg/g, and very low THC Cannabis means Cannabiswith a collective THCA/THC content equal to or less than 3 mg/g.

Precision pods may be any size or shape including those designed for aspecific model of vaporizer, pipe, bowl or bong. The precision pod isconfigured for the oven chamber of a vaporizer or the tobacco orCannabis chamber of a pipe, bowl or bong. Examples of suitable materialsof rigid precision pods include but are not limited to fused quartz orsilica, ceramics including non-toxic ultra-high-temperature ceramics,and any metal and preferably a non-toxic metal or metal alloy such astitanium and food-grade stainless steel; however, any material may beutilized for precision pods whether configured for a vaporizer or apipe, bowl or bong. The material utilized for a vaporizer may depend onthe capabilities or temperature ranges of a vaporizer since differentmaterials including metals heat up at different rates. In some exemplaryembodiments, a precision pod is configured for a specific model ofvaporizer already on the market or a precision pod and a vaporizer areconfigured for one another during the product development phase of anewly designed vaporizer. In other exemplary embodiments, genericprecision pods are configured for multiple types of smoking products ormultiple types of vaporizers.

For precision pods configured for smoking products, materials that donot result in combustion or partial combustion are preferred; however,those materials that do result in combustion may also be utilized andcomprised of paper-like materials like reconstituted tobacco or othercellulosic materials like those produced from hemp. These types of lessrigid precision pods are useful for low doses of compounds. Likewise,for precision pods configured for vaporizers, it is preferred that onlythe contents in the compartment of the precision pod should betransferred to the mainstream vapor, not compounds or constituents ofthe precision pod itself. One of the main advantages of disposableready-to-smoke or ready-to-vape precision pods, whether rigid or notrigid, is the convenience of the precise blends of desired compounds inexact ratios; however in other exemplary embodiments, precision pods maybe reusable in which case there may be an access panel that opens andcloses with a fastener to provide access for removing spent material andadding fresh compounds. There may be legs at the bottom of a precisionpod so the air vents at the bottom of the oven chamber of a vaporizer orthe draught hole in the chamber in bowl, pipe or bong is not blocked bythe floor of the precision pod. In some exemplary embodiments ofready-to-vape precision pods, the vents at the bottom of the precisionpod are configured so that they exactly line up with the vents at thebottom of the oven chamber in a vaporizer. In other exemplaryembodiments of ready-to-smoke precision pods, the vent(s) at the bottomof the precision pod are configured so that they exactly line up withthe draught hole of the chamber in a bowl, pipe or bong. There may beone or more shelves within the compartment of a precision pod so thatthe compounds and any constituents are not resting on the floor of thecompartment. This depends on the type of compounds in a precision podand their boiling points, the amount of total compounds in the precisionpod, whether there is any plant material in the precision pod andwhether a precision pod is specifically made for a specific model ofvaporizer or smoking product.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a ready-to-smoke precision pod 31 has been placedwithin a bowl 32 and may be used with other smoking products such as apipe or bong. The precision pod comprises the exact blend of compoundsand constituents desired and allows the blend in the compartment of theprecision pod to heat, melt and burn evenly. An exact blend ofcrystalline nicotine, crystalline cannabinoid acids (e.g., THCA andCBDA), menthol and ameliorators, for example, dramatically reduces theamount of smoke inhaled for a given dose of nicotine or a given dose ofa cannabinoid, as compared to smoking spliffs, bluffs or factory-madecigarettes that include cannabinoids. This is due to the higherconcentration of nicotine in this formulation which causes smokers tocompensate (i.e., titrate down). Since some embodiments ofready-to-smoke precision pods do not include Cannabis plant material(other than crystalline cannabinoids) or tobacco plant material (otherthan a crystalline nicotine salt), less smoke and ‘tar’ are produced andinhaled resulting in a less harmful product. In other exemplaryembodiments, precision pods do not comprise of any compounds orconstituents extracted or derived from tobacco; however, they includesynthetic nicotine which results in tobacco-free and nicotine-freeprecision pod blends.

As shown in FIG. 3C, a vaporizer 33 is being held and the oven cover 34has been removed from the top of the vaporizer 33. The oven chamber 35is exposed which is where a ready-to-vape precision pod may be placed sothat a precise amount of two or more compounds or one or more compoundsplus plant material(s) such as Cannabis may be vaped. As shown in FIG.3D, the vaporizer 33 now includes an exemplary embodiment of aready-to-vape-precision pod 36 which has been placed in the vaporizer'soven chamber 35 where it is resting. The ready-to-vape precision podincludes an exact formulation of compounds within its compartment andthe precision pod is ready to be used right out of the packaging. Fourlegs 37 are included on the precision pod to increase air and vapor flowat the bottom of the precision pod. Upon the vaporizer's power beingturned on, the oven chamber 35 heats up and the contents of theprecision pod, which include at least 5 mg of a crystalline salt ofnicotine, at least 5 mg of a crystalline cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) andameliorators (such as one or more food grade acids like citric acid tosmooth out the vapor and remove harshness). This solid or semi solidformulation does not contain, or transfer to the mainstream vapor,carcinogenic tobacco compounds such as TSNAs. The ready-to-vapeprecision pod 36 of FIG. 3D reduces mainstream vapor exposure, ascompared to vaping nicotine containing e-cigarettes, since there is amuch greater concentration of nicotine in the mainstream vapor from theprecision pod than from e-liquids so the person vaping the precision podcompensates accordingly by inhaling less vapor. Likewise, as compared toa tobacco heating product, there is also a greater concentration ofnicotine in the mainstream vapor from the precision pod so lessmainstream vapor needs to be inhaled per 1 mg of nicotine desired, whichis in addition to the advantage that the mainstream vapor of theprecision pod does not contain tobacco carcinogens since the precisionpod does not contain tobacco.

Of course, each of the three products: ready-to-vape precision pods,e-cigarettes, and tobacco heating products, results in reduced harm, ascompared to combustible cigarettes (with or without added cannabinoids),since nothing is being burned in these three products, there is notobacco smoke produced which contains thousands of compounds includingdozens of carcinogens. Another incidental advantage ofready-to-vape-precision pods is that they keep vaporizers cleaner, ascompared to using vaporizers without precision pods, since much of theremaining spent material is kept in the precision pod and does seep intothe vents at the bottom of the vaporizer's oven chamber, which resultsin the vaporizer having to be cleaned less frequently.

In some exemplary embodiments, precision pods include at least 5 mg oflow nicotine tobacco and/or at least 5 mg of very low THC Cannabis toassist smokers to quit tobacco and nicotine products altogether or toswitch to a less harmful product such as e-cigarettes, tobacco heatingproducts or precision pods. See U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/047,948 for methods and various types of products to transitionconventional cigarette smokers to less harmful products. Precision podsthat comprise low nicotine tobacco and/or very low THC Cannabis mayfurther comprise at least 2 mg of one or more compounds selected fromthe group consisting of THCA, CBDA, CBCA, CBGA, THCVA, CBDVA, CBCVA,CBGVA, nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene,limonene and humulene. For example, a precision pod comprising at least50 mg of low nicotine tobacco, at least 50 mg of very low THC Cannabis,and at least 5 mg of CBDA, results in much less smoke exposure than avery low nicotine cigarette comprising about 600 mg of low nicotinetobacco.

For formulations of precision pods comprising intoxicating compoundssuch as THCA/THC, the type and magnitude of intoxicating effects arepredictable from using precision pods with precisely quantifiedready-to-vape or ready-to-smoke blends. For example, blends ofcrystalline or near crystalline cannabinoid acids, includingΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), and a crystalline or nearcrystalline salt(s) of nicotine (with or without terpenes, flavors,and/or other additives, or constituents such as plant constituents), areadvantageous for dual users of tobacco and recreational marijuana interms of exposure to tobacco toxins and convenience. Ready-to-vapeprecision pods comprising blends of crystalline or near crystallinecannabinoid acids, including cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), are advantageousfor those who seek relief from pain and do not desire to inhale thevoluminous vapor from vape pens.

As potency of Cannabis concentrates increases, accurate dosing gets moredifficult, and THC effects can be quite variable. Consuming Cannabisconcentrates such as crystalline cannabinoids, wax, budder, oil, shatteror sap, is typically accomplished by ‘dabbing,’ which is positioning theconcentrate on an extremely hot metal object such as a nail that isheated by a blowtorch or the like, and then the vapor is inhaled.Besides being a dangerous and cumbersome procedure, it is extremelydifficult to obtain the correct amount of concentrate which often leadsto over-consumption and unpleasant effects. The potential safety issuesand potential intoxicating effects of the THC concoction are oftenunknown, and the actual intoxicating effects may vary widely includingfrom one Cannabis-concentrate production batch to another. The THCpercentage may not be known or accurate and the ‘entourage effect’ fromthe interactions of the various cannabinoids and impurities is difficultto predict. These downsides also occur with concentrates used invaporizers.

Benefits of ready-to-smoke and ready-to-vape precision pods comprisingone or more crystalline cannabinoid acids, as compared to dabbing, isthat each of the one or more crystalline cannabinoid acids comprise anexact measured dose of the cannabinoid acid (up to about to 99% pure)that is ready to smoke or vape without preparation and the precision podresults in virtually consistent effects for the same person. In someexemplary embodiments of precision pods, the aforementioned amounts ofTHCA in milligrams, along with the purity level of THCA (THCA weightdivided by total weight of the compounds and any additives orconstituents in the precision pod), is clearly conveyed on the packagingsuch as at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, atleast about 93%, at least about 95%, at least about 97%, at least about98%, or at least about 99%, so that end users know what effects toexpect for a given THCA content and THCA ratio of the blend. Forexample, the predictability and consistency of the effects of aprecision pod which includes 5 mg of a salt of nicotine, 50 mg ofcrystalline THCA and 20 mg of crystalline CBDA, 17.5 mg of very low THCCannabis (>0.30% THCA) and 7.5 mg of a carrier and/or ameliorator isquite beneficial for Cannabis users who desire exact, potent andconsistent effects along with concurrent THC/nicotine effects. The THCpurity level of this 100 mg precision pod blend is 50% (50 mg/100 mg).The nicotine/THC ratio is 10%, and the CBD/THC ratio is 40%. As comparedto dabbing or vaping other concentrates in which the cannabinoid ratiosand THC levels are either not known or not consistent in everyproduction batch, ready-to-vape and ready-to-smoke precision podscomprising crystalline cannabinoids are beneficial for Cannabis userswho desire consistency with concentrates and do not want to consume toomuch THC at once. The purity of exactly measured quantities of andratios of crystalline cannabinoids and forms of crystalline nicotine incombination with precision pods not only results in consistency andreduced harm, the convenience of ready-to-smoke and ready-to-vapeprecision pods is also advantageous over dabbing or using multiplevaping devices.

The advantages of precision pods readily become apparent for overcomingthe biological constraints on the Cannabis plant of intrinsicallyproducing certain minor cannabinoids and certain ratios of cannabinoids.For example, Tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA) which decarboxylatesto Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), is a minor cannabinoid found at tracelevels in most Cannabis strains. Sativa strains tend to have higherTHCVA content. THCV may be an important appetite suppressant,therapeutic to reduce panic attacks, and therapeutic for the treatmentof nicotine dependence and possibly other types of dependence. Due toTHCV being a minor cannabinoid, it would be extremely difficult if notimpossible to vape or smoke flowers from a Cannabis strain whichcomprises a THCVA to THCA ratio of at least 3/2 or a THCVA to CBDA ratioof at least 3/2. In some exemplary embodiments, THCVA is extracted andisolated for use in precision pods (or onserts or precision rods)comprising a THCVA to THCA ratio of at least 3/2. In other exemplaryembodiments, THCVA is extracted and isolated for use in precision pods(or onserts or precision rods) comprising a THCVA to CBDA ratio of atleast 3/2. Tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid (THCVA) may be synthesized andutilized in precision pods, precision rods and onserts.

It will be appreciated that any exemplary embodiment herein may beautomated with a machine whether it is a purely mechanical machine,table-top machine, or more substantial electrical type of machine. Forexample, in some exemplary embodiments, machines may provide adjunctnicotine sources (e.g., precision rods) to multiple cigarettes at oncesuch as an entire pack of twenty cigarettes.

Certain precision rods, onserts, ready-to-vape precision pods andready-to-smoke precision pods that comprise crystalline alkaloids maynot be considered tobacco products in some jurisdictions since, amongother reasons, they do not contain tobacco other than alkaloids, whichmay or may not be derived from tobacco plants. The alkaloids of thesearticles may be synthesized so that no ingredients whatsoever are fromtobacco plants. Likewise, in some exemplary embodiments, thecannabinoids used in onserts, precision rods or precision pods may besynthesized and produced outside of a Cannabis plant. In other exemplaryembodiments, synthetic alkaloids and synthetic cannabinoids are blendedresulting in formulations used in onserts, precision rods or precisionpods which do not contain any Nicotiana or Cannabis plant material.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ready-to-vape precision pod for use with a vaporizer configured to generate vapor from dry herbs or plant extracts to assist transitioning cigarette smokers to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product, for use as a smoking cessation treatment, or to quit tobacco and nicotine products altogether, the ready-to-vape precision pod comprising: one or more compounds equaling at least 2 mg selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, flavor, THCA/THC, CBDA/CBD, CBCA/CBC, CBGA/CBG, THCVA/THCV, CBDVA/CBDV, CBCVA/CBCV, CBGVA/CBGV, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene; at least 5 mg of very low THC Cannabis; at least 5 mg of low nicotine tobacco; a compartment that houses the one or more compounds, the very low THC Cannabis and the low nicotine tobacco; and one or more vents for ventilation of air and vapor into and out of the compartment, wherein the at least 5 mg very low THC Cannabis comprises a collective THCA/THC content of equal to or less than 3 mg/g, and wherein the at least 5 mg low nicotine tobacco comprises a nicotine content of equal to or less than 3 mg/g.
 2. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is anatabine.
 3. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is anabasine.
 4. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is CBCA/CBC.
 5. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is CBCVA/CBCV.
 6. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is CBDA/CBD.
 7. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is CBDVA/CBDV.
 8. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is CBGA/CBG.
 9. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is CBGVA/CBGV.
 10. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is THCVA/THCV.
 11. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds is a flavor comprising menthol.
 12. A ready-to-vape precision pod for use with a vaporizer configured to generate vapor from dry herbs or plant extracts to assist transitioning cigarette smokers to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product, for use as a smoking cessation treatment, or to quit tobacco and nicotine products altogether, the ready-to-vape precision pod comprising: one or more compounds equaling at least 2 mg selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, flavor, THCA/THC, CBDA/CBD, CBCA/CBC, CBGA/CBG, THCVA/THCV, CBDVA/CBDV, CBCVA/CBCV, CBGVA/CBGV, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene; at least 5 mg of Cannabis; at least 5 mg of low nicotine tobacco; a compartment that houses the one or more compounds, the very low THC Cannabis and the low nicotine tobacco; and one or more vents for ventilation of air and vapor into and out of the compartment, wherein the at least 5 mg low nicotine tobacco comprises a nicotine content of equal to or less than 3 mg/g.
 13. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 12, wherein the one or more compounds is anatabine.
 14. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 12, wherein the one or more compounds is anabasine.
 15. The ready-to-vape precision pod of claim 12, wherein the one or more compounds is a flavor comprising menthol.
 16. A ready-to-smoke precision pod for use with a smoking product for inhalation of mainstream smoke as a smoking cessation treatment, to assist transitioning smokers to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product, or to quit tobacco and nicotine products altogether, the ready-to-smoke precision pod comprising: one or more compounds equaling at least 2 mg selected from the group consisting of nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, flavor, THCA/THC, CBDA/CBD, CBCA/CBC, CBGA/CBG, THCVA/THCV, CBDVA/CBDV, CBCVA/CBCV, CBGVA/CBGV, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, limonene and humulene; at least 5 mg of low nicotine tobacco; at least 5 mg of very low THC Cannabis; a compartment that houses the one or more compounds, the low nicotine tobacco and very low THC cannabis; and one or more vents for ventilation of air and smoke into and out of the compartment, wherein the smoking product comprises a pipe, bowl or bong, wherein the ready-to-smoke precision pod is configured for a tobacco or Cannabis chamber of a pipe, bowl or bong, wherein the at least 5 mg very low THC Cannabis comprises a collective THCA/THC content of equal to or less than 3 mg/g, and wherein the at least 5 mg low nicotine tobacco comprises a nicotine content of equal to or less than 3 mg/g.
 17. The ready-to-smoke precision pod of claim 16, wherein the one or more compounds is anabasine.
 18. The ready-to-smoke precision pod of claim 16, wherein the one or more compounds is anatabine.
 19. The ready-to-smoke precision pod of claim 16, wherein the one or more compounds is a flavor comprising menthol.
 20. The ready-to-smoke precision pod of claim 16, wherein the one or more compounds is THCVA/THCV.
 21. The ready-to-smoke precision pod of claim 16, wherein the one or more compounds is CBDA/CBD. 